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Petrol Price Hike: Stop Trying To Stifle Competition,Become A Monopolist – PETROAN To Dangote
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has accused Dangote Refinery of attempting to stifle competition in the downstream sector.
The Publisher Nigeria reports that this allegation comes after Dangote Refinery claimed that marketers were criticizing its petrol pricing because they intended to import cheaper, potentially lower-quality products.
On Sunday, Dangote Refinery stated it sells petrol at N990 per liter in trucks and N960 per liter for ship loading, aligning its prices with international market rates.
This clarification followed claims by PETROAN and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that they could purchase petrol at more affordable prices than those offered by Dangote.
In response, Dangote Refinery asserted that only substandard products could be sold at rates lower than theirs.
However, in a statement on Monday signed by its spokesperson, Joseph Obele, PETROAN argued that Dangote’s claim of substandard imports was “his usual gimmick for maintaining monopoly.”
The marketers emphasized that consumers benefit the most when competition thrives, advocating for a competitive market environment to prevent exploitative practices and ensure fair pricing.
PETROAN also announced that it had finalized arrangements with foreign refinery partners and financial backers to import high-quality PMS, promising to offer it at prices significantly lower than current rates in Nigeria.
The statement reads: “Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria PETROAN has successfully incorporated a Strategic Business unit called PETROL.
“PETROAN’s drive was solution-centric and patriotism following the pricing instability and turbulences in the downstream sector.
“The reformative and Transformational agendas of President is seen as inimical to advocates and beneficiaries of monopolistic market. The President Interventions was meant to liberalise the downstream sector by building an all inclusive market.
“Intensive or aggressive Competition in any market brings the best value for money exchange for a commodity. Consumers gets the best value for pricing when Competition is at it’s peak, hence Competition should be encouraged.
“Contrarily to Competition, such a market will be exploitative and strictly for profiteering. The publication by Dangote refinery that PETROAN will import sub standard Petroleum product is not coming as a surprise to Stakeholders, because such is his usual gimmick for maintaining monopoly.
“The publication was coming after PETROAN and IPMAN announced plans to sell far lesser than the current Selling rate of PMS in Nigeria.
“It is important to set the records straight that PETROAN has never compared the price of Dangote PMS with any other on the fact that Dangote’s PMS price wasn’t known until this morning at the press release by Dangote Refinery.
“PETROAN has concluded plans with her foreign Refinery counterparts and financial partners to import the best quality of PMS and then sell far lesser than the present selling rate of PMS in Nigeria.
“We planned to enter the market before December 2024, pending the approval of our import permit license by the regulatory agency and access to foreign exchange from CBN at the the official rate.
“Before now Dangote Refinery has refused to make public her selling rate of PMS until IPMAN and PETROAN announced readiness to sell lesser.
“The rate of #990 as announced by Dangote refinery was inconsiderate base on the fact Dangote Refinery enjoyed massive concession for accessing foreign exchange during the construction of the refinery.
“The core determinant for setting price is consideration for cost of production then add a fair margin. But this wasn’t the case for the determinant of PMS price by Dangote refinery as they said” the parameter was comparison with the international selling rate at the global market.
“A nation that gave you a yet to be disclosed concession for foreign exchange which was highly criticised by financial expert’s, such a country Pricing template shouldn’t have been templated by the selling rate at the international market but rather it should have been cost of production plus fair margin.
“Goods from the China markets are not selling as high like goods from the America market because cost of production differs.
“The allegations that PETROAN will import inferior Products and saying also that an international company is trying to establish a PMS blending plant in Lagos are all strategies for Dangote Refinery to push others out of the market in view achieving monopoly for exploitation.
“Few months ago the CEO of Dangote Refinery said NNPC LTD was importing inferior Petroleum Products, that his own was far better than what NNPC LTD was selling to Marketers. In another press conference he said the Refinery at Malta was just a blending plant and not a Refinery. All the allegations are with the Objectives of closing the doors for other Operators so to enjoy monopoly.
“Evidences available showed that diesel (AGO) as a deregulated product was selling less than #800 in Nigeria market few weeks before the commencement of AGO production by Dangote Refinery, at the entrance of AGO market by Dangote refinery we witnessed a rapid surge above #1,000 as against the the perception of a “SALVAGING REFINERY”.
“PETROAN uses this medium to commend Mr President for his commitment towards the revamping of the nation owned refineries. It is on record that the ongoing rehabilitation project never suffers funding Under President Tinubu as it was earlier.
“We will still maintain our position by counselling that the Port Harcourt and Warri Refinery plant after rehabilitation should immediately be privatised and handled over to a reputable firm that has the Technical capability, managerial skills and financial strength in partnership with PETROAN and other critical Stakeholders.
