By Abdullahi Lukman
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, David Bird, says the refinery is delivering measurable public health and environmental benefits through the production of Euro 5 standard fuels in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interaction with selected journalists, Bird said the facility now produces Euro 5 specification petrol with a sulphur content of 50 parts per million, aligning Nigeria with countries that maintain the highest global fuel quality standards.
He explained that modern fuel specifications are driven primarily by public health concerns, particularly the need to reduce harmful emissions caused by high sulphur and metal content.
According to him, lowering sulphur levels in fuel significantly reduces air pollution and environmental hazards such as acid rain.
He stressed that Euro 5 standards are not designed to impose additional costs on industry but to safeguard public health and ensure cleaner air.
Bird noted that while some West African countries still operate under older fuel specifications with higher sulphur content, Nigeria now benefits from cleaner fuels produced locally.
He added that metals such as lead, once used to enhance fuel performance, have long been phased out in advanced markets due to associated health risks.
He stated that Nigerians now have access to low-sulphur, metal-free petrol comparable to what is available in Europe, describing it as a standard consumers deserve rather than a luxury.
The refinery, he said, aims to expand access to high-quality fuels across the African continent.
Bird maintained that the refinery’s capacity to consistently deliver cleaner fuels marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s energy landscape, aligning domestic fuel production with global best practices while advancing environmental protection and public health standards.
