The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said it has faced 22 sabotage attempts since it began operations at its 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.
The company made this known on Friday during a visit to the refinery by former presidential aide and social media personality Reno Omokri, and the Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers’ Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo.
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Speaking to journalists, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, Vice President for Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, said the acts of sabotage were deliberate attempts to disrupt production and damage equipment.
He explained that the refinery’s modern safety systems helped prevent serious damage.
“We have recorded 22 cases of sabotage. In some cases, people tried to start fires or open valves to cause harm. Luckily, our fire protection system detected and controlled all incidents,” he said.
Mr. Edwin also said recent reports suggesting that the refinery was having operational or crude oil supply problems were false.
“People said the refinery would not start. Then they said it would not work. Later, they spread false news about gas supply. Now they are talking about breakdowns. None of it is true,” he added.
He revealed that the refinery currently has over 312 million litres of petrol in storage and continues daily production.
With a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery can meet Nigeria’s entire need for petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, while still exporting almost half of its products.
During the tour, Reno Omokri praised the refinery, saying Nigerians should support it to succeed because it plays an important role in strengthening the country’s economy.
“In less than a year, about 650 ships have come here to load petroleum products for export. That’s an incredible achievement,” he said.
He added that a country’s currency becomes stronger when it produces and exports more, not when it only trades foreign currency.
Also speaking, King Bubaraye Dakolo described the refinery as a “revolutionary investment” that can greatly benefit Nigeria’s economy if protected and well-managed.