- It said this in a statement on its X handle on Sunday
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has refuted claims that it is in discussions to supply crude oil to any Nigerian refinery, including the Dangote refinery.
This denial follows assertions from some top refinery officials that negotiations were underway with Libya for crude oil supply.
In a statement on its X handle on Sunday, the NOC clarified it has not engaged in any talks regarding crude supply to Nigerian refineries. The Arabic statement translates to: “The National Oil Corporation denies that it has negotiated or entered into any talks regarding the supply of crude oil to an oil refinery in Nigeria. The NOC also confirms its commitment to contracts with international partners and the legal mechanisms for selling Libyan oil, stating it does not operate through an immediate sales mechanism. Prices are determined by a committee of experts and approved by the corporation and the Ministry of Oil and Gas.”
The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery has faced challenges with local crude supply since beginning operations in January. Refinery officials recently accused International Oil Companies of obstructing operations by refusing to supply crude or selling at premium rates, forcing the Dangote Group to import feedstock from the United States and other sources.
On Saturday, allegations emerged that the refinery was reselling its crude to other traders. However, Dangote Group spokesperson Tony Chiejina dismissed these claims, stating the refinery sources crude from Libya and Angola. “Outright falsehood. We are sourcing more crude from Angola and Libya. Also, our Crude Distillation Unit is functioning perfectly well. You may wish to visit the refinery even today or tomorrow,” Chiejina said.