I don’t operate any refinery business by proxy anywhere in the world, says Kyari

Shittu Damilola – Abuja
The CEO/ MD of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Mele Kyari has denied establishing a crude oil blending plant in Malta.

In a statement he personally issued, he also noted that he is not aware of any employee of the company who owns such a plant.

He was responding to the accusation that the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote leveled against the NNPCL.

Dangote claimed that owing to their ownership of a blending plant in Malta, the company has been frustrating local refineries such as his 650,000barrels per day plant.

Kyari said, “I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta thereby impeding procurements from local production of Petroleum products.

“To clarify the allegations regarding blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini Agric venture.

“Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC, that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world. “A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.

“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security.”