Oluwatosin Enesi
The regulator said the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery is still in its pre-commissioning phase and has yet to receive a full operational licence.
The development was disclosed by the Head of Public Affairs at NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita.
Ene-Ita said the refinery is going through a phased process, adding that only two out of four priority sections have received approval for the introduction of hydrocarbons.
“The entire plant is subdivided into four sections technically referred to as priorities one, two, three, and four.
“At this stage of pre-commissioning, only priorities one and two have been given approval to introduce hydrocarbons, which allows the plant to operate on a test-run basis,” Ene-Ita told The Guardian.
Considering the refinery’s stages of approval, the NMDPRA said the refinery only has permission to produce petroleum products like diesel, jet fuel, and kerosene.
According to the regulator, only the approved products are permitted to be released into the Nigerian market under its regulatory supervision.
Ene-Ita said the audits to be undergone by the refinery include tests on the plant’s mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems, an action to ensure the refinery’s preparedness for full-scale production.
He added that full production and an increased volume of PMS would only be achieved when approval is given to introduce hydrocarbons into priorities three and four.
He said, “Once these sections are operational, the plant will undergo a 90-day observation period during which additional tests and audits will be carried out to confirm compliance with regulatory guidelines. If, after 90 days, our technical team confirms that the facility adheres to all parameters, the refinery will be issued a License to Operate (LTO), marking its full operational status.”
Ene-Ita also reacted to the concerns over the colour of PMS produced during the pre-commissioning phase.
He explained that the Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) specified colour for PMS is Oxblood Red.
He said the refinery is not fully operational, adding that the colour may not conform to NIS standards until it is fully operational.
“It’s important to note that colour is not necessarily an indicator of product quality, nor is it a quality parameter in regulatory compliance. When the Dangote Refinery becomes fully operational, it will be expected to produce PMS that conforms to the NIS colour specifications,” added Ene-Ita.
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