This revelation comes on the heels of a similar discovery that Matrix Energy Group, a Nigerian energy company, also imports fuel from Malta.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited, owned by Sayyu Dantata, half-brother of billionaire Aliko Dangote, imports premium motor spirit (PMS) or fuel into Nigeria from Malta.
This revelation comes on the heels of a similar discovery that Matrix Energy Group, a Nigerian energy company, also imports fuel from Malta.
Dantata is the founder and CEO of MRS Holdings Ltd, formerly known as MRS Group.
Recent news in Nigeria highlighted a significant increase in fuel imports from Malta, following revelations by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In July, SaharaReporters reported that Dangote alleged sabotage against his refinery, saying certain individuals within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were importing substandard petrol products into the country.
He alleged that these NNPC officials had established a refinery in Malta, from which they import inferior fuel into Nigeria.
He said, “Even at 650,000 bpm and 700,000 bpm that we are producing was a better quality than what was imported. And I am sure most of you will have problems with your vehicle because of the bad fuel that were imported into the country, I still stand by what I said.
"Go to filling station, you can pick it up and check the quality. That is only way. But all these one somebody will bring in ship, bring in fake certificates. Some NNPC people, some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere in Malta. We all know these areas, we know what they are doing.”
Indeed, Nigeria's petroleum imports from Malta skyrocketed to $2.8 billion in 2023, a stark contrast to the previous years: $0 between 2017 and 2022, and a negligible $13.32 million in 2016.
However, Mele Kyari, the Group CEO of NNPCL, swiftly refuted Dangote's allegations, denying any involvement or interest in a Maltese plant.
Similarly, BusinessDay recently reported that it obtained documents detailing a complex scheme involving the importation of substandard Russian petroleum petrol to Malta for blending, followed by shipment to Nigeria.
According to the report, leaked documents reveal that Matrix Energy, a company with both upstream and downstream operations, has been importing low-grade petroleum products, blending them with higher-quality fuel, and distributing the mixture in the Nigerian market.
Matrix Energy's assets include a 150 million-litre capacity depot in Warri (Bluefin Depot), three old ships (Matrix Pride, Matrix Triumph, Matrix S.ILU), and approximately 600 trucks.
Matrix Energy Group, led by CEO Abdulkabir Aliu, operates in both the upstream and downstream segments of Nigeria's oil and gas industry.
Despite allegations, Matrix Energy has denied importing substandard fuel, claiming to have consistently met approved specifications.
However, the company has not denied importing petrol from Malta.
During a recent visit to the Dangote Refinery, the House of Representatives uncovered the importation of substandard diesel by Matrix. A test of diesel samples from TotalEnergies and Matrix filling stations revealed alarmingly high sulphur levels of 2,653ppm, far exceeding the permissible limit of 50ppm.
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, was quoted as saying: “Our quality was one of the best in terms of quality when we started. The sample from TotalEnergies’s diesel showed a 1,829ppm sulphur concentration. The sample from Matrix Retail showed 2,653ppm.”
Meanwhile, documents obtained by SaharaReporters have revealed that Dangote's half-brother has also been importing fuel from Malta, showing Nigeria’s big players in the petroleum industry have been importing refined fuel from the European country.
One of the documents dated March 4, 2024, obtained by SaharaReporters, is a letter from Moyosola Kuku, General Manager of Risk Management at MRS & Oil Co. Limited, addressed to the Managing Director of NNPCL.
The letter, titled 'Submission of Shipping/Cargo Documents for Petroleum Product Delivery MT AETHER/SUB with Laycan 17th-19th February 2024,' provides evidence of fuel importation by MRS from Malta.
The letter from Moyosola Kuku, GM Risk Management at MRS & Oil Co. Limited, referenced attached original documents related to MT AETHER, including: Marine Insurance (Mother Vessel); letter from supplier; bill of lading; certificate of quantity; certificate of quality before loading; certificate of quality after loading; master receipt; notice of readiness loadport; vessel survey report before and after loading; ullage report before and after loading; bunker survey report (fuel oil & diesel oil); cargo pumping log; time log and VEF.
These documents provide detailed information about the fuel shipment.
Also, in a letter addressed to the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) dated March 4, 2024, and signed by Moyosola Kuku, the MRS Oil & Gas Co. Limited General Manager, Risk Management, the firm confirmed the purchase of fuel from OPL Malta.
Part of the letter titled ‘Letter of Advice on Trade to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’, reads, “We, MRS Oil & Gas Co. Ltd, with registered address No 2, Tincan Island Port Road, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
“We hereby confirm that MRS Oil & Gas Co. Ltd purchased 91,219.232 Mt Vac of unleaded gasoline 91 Ron from PETROCAM DMCC, which was loaded at the port of OPL Malta, onto vessel MT AETHER with bill of loading dated 19/02/2024…
“In line with the February 2024 spot gasoline supply contract, we subsequently sold full cargo on board MT AETHER (91,219.232 MTV) to NNPC for delivery Offshore Lagos.”