Dangote Refinery Slams PENGASSAN’s Supply Cut Directive as “Economic Sabotage”

Dangote Refinery has strongly condemned the directive by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to cut off crude oil and gas supplies to the facility, labeling it as “economic sabotage”.

The refinery’s management claims that PENGASSAN’s action is unlawful and could disrupt the production and distribution of key petroleum products.

In a statement on Saturday, the oil company said: “This is a brazen, albeit shocking, display of lawlessness and criminality by PENGASSAN. Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all.”

The refinery emphasized that contractual agreements for crude oil and gas supply were entered into with third-party vendors, not with PENGASSAN.

The shutdown of crude oil supply and gas to the Dangote Refinery could have significant implications for Nigeria’s energy sector, potentially leading to fuel shortages and economic disruptions.

The refinery warned that PENGASSAN’s directive undermines the rule of law, threatens investment, and could cripple a strategic national asset vital to government revenue.

Dangote Refinery stated that PENGASSAN’s directive would disrupt the supply of essential petroleum products, including aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas.

This would introduce insufferable hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians, with no justification for such action.

Persecondnews reports that the dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN stems from the refinery’s management’s decision to terminate the employment of union members who exercised their constitutional right to unionize.

PENGASSAN has directed its members to take immediate action, including cutting off gas supply to the refinery, shutting crude oil supply valves, and halting loading operations for vessels headed to the refinery ³.

Dangote Refinery is urging the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene in the matter, warning that compliance with PENGASSAN’s directive would cause irreparable hardship for households and businesses nationwide.