Uncertainty looms over Indigenous shipping participation at $19.5bn Dangote Refinery

As Nigerians expect the first product from the $19.5bn Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery anytime soon, indigenous ship-owners have told the Nigerian Tribune that despite writing Dangote Group over indigenous participation in freight of crude oil products from the refinery, the promoters of the refinery are yet to get in touch with any Indigenous operator.

This is even as Dangote Group told Nigerian Tribune exclusively that the company is yet to see or receive any letter of request from any indigenous ship-owners group.

Recall that during the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery in May this year, the Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had said that the first product of the Dangote Refinery will be out in the market before the end of July and beginning of August 2023.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. George Onyung explained that the association is still waiting for any feedback from Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery.

According to Dr. George Onyung, “We wrote to Dangote Group over plans to get involved in the movement of crude oil products from the refinery. You know that falls under Cabotage law and indigenous vessel owners are supposed to benefit from the freighting of crude oil products from that facility.

“So, as President of SOAN, we wrote to them, but we are yet to hear from Dangote Refinery. We are beginning to think they will toe the line of the NNPC. You know NNPC is involved in the Dangote Petrochemicals Refinery as a 20 percent shareholder.

“NNPC always patronize foreign ship-owners for the carriage of Nigeria’s crude oil products. So, when we wrote to Dangote Refinery and didn’t hear from them, we began to think as usual, they won’t patronize indigenous vessel owners.

“Their first products will hit the market anytime soon, according to what their Chairman said during the commissioning, but we are yet to hear from them despite writing Dangote Group.”

Also speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the matter, President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mallam Aminu Umar also said his group has not received any contact from the Dangote Refinery over lifting of crude oil products.

Aminu Umar who also doubles as the Managing Director of Sea Transport Group, stated that, “The establishment of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery is a blessing to indigenous vessel owners.

“If the project comes fully on stream, I expect indigenous ship-owners to take advantage if they have ships that are in a good position to take cargoes and do delivery for Dangote.

“Yes, Aliko Dangote said the first products from the refinery will hit the market end of July and first week in August. And that time is here, but we are yet to hear from Dangote Refinery.

“But why don’t we wait more and let’s see things unfold. You know how these things work. There are Cargo Brokers and there are Ship Brokers. We expect to start hearing from them anytime soon because the time that the first products will hit the market is here. But as of now, we have not heard from anybody.”

When contacted, Spokesman of Dangote Group, Mr. Tony Chiejina told the Nigerian Tribune that the company is yet to receive any letter from any ship-owners group.

“We have not seen any letter from any ship-owners group. Do you know them or have a copy of their letter? If you have a copy of their letter, kindly bring to me and we will take it up from there.

“And if you know the leaders of the different Indigenous ship-owners group, kindly send me their numbers so we can take it up from there.

“Where did they submit their letters to? Do they even know our head office in Falomo, Ikoyi? We have not seen any letter from any Indigenous ship-owners group,” Mr. Tony Chiejina told Nigerian Tribune Correspondent exclusively.