The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has alleged that 19 trucks carrying propane from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery could not be accounted for as part of an investigation into the distribution and use of the product.

The allegation is at the centre of a dispute between the regulator and the refinery over an NMDPRA directive suspending propane loading and movement by truck from the facility.

Propane is a highly flammable gas produced during the processing of crude oil and natural gas. It is commonly mixed with butane to produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used as cooking gas.

The dispute came before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, with NMDPRA asking the court to discharge an interim order preventing it from enforcing the suspension. Dangote Refinery accused the regulator of abusing its powers.

NMDPRA said its investigation began after laboratory tests on LPG samples from three plants, Selai, Tewa and Ameego Pago, allegedly showed propane content above 50 per cent.

According to the regulator, industry requirements allow no more than 20 per cent propane in an LPG blend, with butane making up about 80 per cent.

NMDPRA said representatives of the three plants identified Sublime Oil and Gas Limited, an off-taker from Dangote Refinery, as their source of propane.

The regulator alleged that Sublime lifted 25 trucks of propane from the refinery on August 20 and 22 for delivery to Navgas/Agasco, but Navgas confirmed receiving only six.

NMDPRA said the remaining 19 trucks were therefore unaccounted for.

It also alleged that records from Delta State showed another off-taker loaded 52 trucks between May and August 2026 for delivery to Navgas, but Navgas said it received none of them.

The regulator said the alleged diversion raised safety concerns because propane could be used to produce LPG mixtures containing more propane than permitted.

NMDPRA also claimed that propane produced by Dangote and other gas processing facilities had a vapour pressure of about 13 bar, compared with a maximum of seven bar for the standard propane and butane LPG mixture.

A bar is a unit used to measure pressure. The regulator argued that LPG plants designed to handle the lower pressure could face an increased risk of explosion if exposed to higher-pressure propane.

NMDPRA said its officials were denied access when they attempted to inspect propane loading operations and records at Dangote Refinery on August 24.

t subsequently issued a notice of potential non-compliance and directed the refinery to suspend propane loading and movement by truck while its investigation continued and additional safety measures were considered.

The regulator, through its counsel, Matthew Burkaa, also argued that Dangote obtained the August 31 interim court order through alleged misrepresentation and suppression of material facts.

Dangote Refinery’s counsel, Wale Akoni, SAN, requested an adjournment to respond to NMDPRA’s counter-affidavit, saying he was served with it in court on Wednesday.

Justice Akintayo Aluko said he could not give the parties another date because his assignment as a vacation judge would end on Friday.

“My jurisdiction ends on Friday as far as the vacation matter is concerned. Therefore, the Admin Judge will, in his wisdom, decide where the case file should go,” the judge said.

The court nevertheless extended its interim order preventing NMDPRA from interfering with the refinery’s operations.

“I find it proper to extend the interim order made on the 31st day of August 2026. It shall continue to subsist and shall be in force till the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, or until the court gives further directive,” Justice Aluko held.

The judge directed that the case file be returned to the registry for assignment to a regular court.

The allegations against Dangote Refinery and its off-takers have not been determined by the court. The interim order remains in force pending further proceedings. (QED, but headline rejigged)