The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has firmly denied engaging in any negotiations to supply crude oil to Nigeria's Dangote Refinery after the later alleged ongoing discussion in this regard.
In an official statement, the NOC stressed its adherence to established contracts with international partners and the legal mechanisms for selling Libyan crude oil, underscoring that it does not engage in spot sales.
"The pricing of crude oil is determined by a committee of experts and approved by both the NOC and the Ministry of Oil and Gas," the statement read.
The denial follows an announcement on July 16 by Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Refinery, Nigeria's largest, who said the facility would look to import crude from African producers, including Libya, amid a dispute with international oil companies in Nigeria.
Dangote indicated that the refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, would begin these imports starting in October due to local shortages.
"We will start importing crude from countries like Libya and Angola... we will initiate contact with these countries and proceed from there," Dangote was quoted as saying by Legit, a Nigerian news outlet, on July 15.
During a tour of the refinery, Dangote also mentioned plans to source crude from the United States and Brazil in the near future. "We have already purchased from the United States and Brazil. Therefore, I believe we will extend our reach to most African countries by next month," he stated.
