Dangote Refinery has dismissed reports that its diesel exports were rejected in Europe for failing to meet winter-quality standards, insisting it does not produce or market winter-grade diesel.
A recent Argus Media report had claimed that several European traders were avoiding diesel shipments from the refinery due to concerns around cloud point performance, sulphur levels and overall suitability for cold weather conditions in northern Europe.
But in a response on Tuesday, the refinery’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, described the claims as misleading. He said the facility has never offered winter diesel to any European buyer.
“Diesel supplied to Europe has seasonal specifications—winter, summer, spring, and autumn. We do not produce winter diesel; it is not part of our portfolio,” Chiejina stated.
According to Argus, multiple European traders who tested samples of Dangote diesel found that the product could not meet winter specifications. One European distillates trader who analysed a 16 November sample said the diesel recorded a cloud point of +8°C—far above Germany’s winter requirement of -7°C. The trader also noted a sulphur content of 36ppm, exceeding Europe’s 10ppm limit, though the specific gravity of 0.8395 was within Dangote’s declared export range. The cetane number was 57.5, surpassing Europe’s minimum threshold of 51.
The trader further said attempts to blend the product with jet fuel to improve cold-weather performance would likely be ineffective because “Jet is not 10ppm,” and blending could raise sulphur levels even higher. Another European trader added that using the diesel as blendstock had not been considered due to difficulty sourcing jet fuel with sufficiently low sulphur.
One Nigerian source familiar with the refinery’s operations added that the concern was not related to price or market arbitrage but simply that “Dangote can’t supply winter diesel at present to the colder regions of Europe.”
Argus also reported that the refinery’s export specification does not include the cold filter plugging point (CFPP), a key parameter for winter diesel performance.
With European buyers holding back, West Africa has remained the main outlet for Dangote diesel. Data from Kpler shows Nigeria absorbing around 25,000 b/d, Ghana 14,000 b/d and Togo 7,000 b/d, accounting for 97 percent of the refinery’s seaborne diesel and gasoil exports this year.
Even within the Nigerian market, some industrial customers reportedly prefer diesel with a specific gravity of 0.8400 and above, which burns more slowly. Dangote diesel typically ranges around 0.8300 or lower, sometimes requiring sellers to negotiate further to conclude deals. The sample reviewed by Argus had a gravity of 0.8386, within the refinery’s stated domestic and export range.
Dangote Refinery, which commenced operations late last year, has announced plans to ramp up output to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028. At full expansion, the company says it will begin producing winter-grade diesel and upgrade all products to Euro VI standards to match the highest global fuel-quality benchmarks.
Source: The Guardian
