Dangote refinery price cut triggers brutal petrol war, heavy losses for importers and marketers
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector is in the middle of what operators describe as an intense price war following the decision by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to sharply reduce its gantry price for Premium Motor Spirit from N828 to N699 per litre. The move has forced fuel importers, depot owners and retail marketers to cut prices aggressively, even as the refinery admits it is also losing money under the new price regime. Estimates based on consumption and supply data suggest that petrol importers could lose about N102.48bn every month if they match Dangote’s prices. With the refinery now selling N129 per litre cheaper than the prevailing import landing cost, analysts say depot owners who offload cargo at Dangote-level prices would be taking a loss of about N129 on every litre sold, amounting to roughly N3.41bn daily. Dangote Refinery itself is projected […]