Dangote Refinery Raises Alarm Over Threat Of Supply Disruption By PENGASSAN

Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has condemned a directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) instructing its branches to halt gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery, describing the move as “lawless, criminal and an act of economic sabotage.”

In a statement released on Saturday, the refinery’s management said it had received reports of a written communication by PENGASSAN dated September 26, 2025.

The directive reportedly ordered members in several branches including TotalEnergies E&P, Seplat Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) to immediately cut off gas supply to NGIC and shut crude oil supply valves to the Dangote Refinery.

The association also instructed its branch chairmen to ensure full compliance and provide updates on progress.

Dangote Refinery management described the move as an illegal interference with private contractual agreements, stressing that PENGASSAN has no statutory right to halt supplies.

“There is no law in Nigeria that empowers the Association to cut off gas or crude oil supply to the refinery. Supply agreements were entered into with third-party vendors, not with PENGASSAN,” the statement read.

The company warned that enforcing such directives would have severe consequences for Nigerians, as it would disrupt the availability of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, and cooking gas.

“This amounts to economic sabotage against the Nigerian State and hardship for every household and business that depends on refined petroleum products,” management said.

The statement further noted that the refinery, the largest of its kind in Africa, should be regarded as a strategic national asset, contributing significantly to government revenues and boosting investor confidence in the oil and gas sector. It cautioned that PENGASSAN’s action could discourage foreign investment and damage Nigeria’s reputation as a secure destination for energy-related business.

Management also criticized what it described as a contradiction in PENGASSAN’s approach, pointing out that the association had earlier on September 26 issued a press release pledging to pursue legal action over its grievances with the refinery, only to abandon that position by directing industrial sabotage.

Calling on the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to intervene, the refinery urged authorities to prevent what it described as an unlawful attempt to disrupt operations. “Nigeria is a country governed by laws. PENGASSAN is not above the law, and it must not be allowed to introduce anarchy and mayhem into the system,” the statement stressed.

The refinery’s management also appealed to Nigerians to resist what it described as an “irredeemable hardship” the union’s directive could trigger. It urged PENGASSAN to return to the lawful path of addressing disputes through legal and regulatory channels rather than disruptive industrial action.