Energy experts have picked holes in a recent video released by certain male influencer claiming to show the superiority of petrol from Dangote refinery over that of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
The Chairman Energy Transition Study Group of Nigeria Gas Association, Olabode Sowunmi,CEO Cabtree, said that the idea that hydrocarbons (Petrol) from a certain refinery of the same chemical composition will behave differently under the same conditions is not scientific.
He said the experiment is scientifically impossible.
“You need some knowledge of chemistry to understand this but this is it: All petrol, irrespective of grade or source fall within a range Carbon atoms content (per molecule of the compound which is PMS).
“Chemically, that is the C4-C12 group meaning 4-12 Carbon atoms per molecule of the compound. So, irrespective of which one, they will behave alike.
“Now the combustion of petrol to produce the energy that powers the generator must be consistent for it to be science.
“This because all chemical reactions including the combustion of hydrocarbons will be repeatable under the same conditions.
“It is like saying water certified to be clean and pure from Nestle is better than same water from Guinness. That’s not scientific. It could make nice material for a fiction novel. It could be a useful line for propaganda but it is not scientifically correct.
“For perspective, water boils at 100 degrees at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP). So it doesn’t matter if it is in Alaska or Cape Town or Potiskum. At 100 degrees STP, water will boil! And it can be repeated anywhere once the conditions are met. That is science,” he added.
Ademole Henry Adigun, maintained that the timeline for combustion can’t ever be that much, saying unless you use vapor in one and real petrol in another.
“No matter the type of fuel and additives, you cannot get a 2 minute burn difference. At best, with all things equal, load and others, best you get 30 seconds,” he stated.
An Advertising Practitioner and author, Mr Dave Chukwuji, noted that the viral video is not only inappropriate but also offensive and unethical.
According to him, the influencer, perceived to be an agent working for the Dangote Group, is participating in comparative or combative advertising, commonly known as “knocking copy,” which is loosely described as ads that directly compare the promoted brand with one or more rival brands in a way that is clear to the audience.
“By doing so, he is igniting an advertising rivalry that benefits neither the brands involved nor the consumers.
“In today’s digital landscape of social media, where the ability to broadcast information is accessible to anyone with a camera phone, individuals have largely become citizen journalists.
“If this trend continues unchecked, it could lead to widespread panic and discontent due to misinformation, disinformation, or blatant propaganda.
“This situation must be addressed, particularly considering the significance of PMS to the life and economy of Nigeria,” he stated.
Dr. Ikuforiji Adedamola,berated the claim, and explained that a proper energy content analysis in a laboratory should have been run instead of the social media campaign aimed at deceiving the public.
He said: “We should see the data sheet of petrol sold by the different entities for a technical evaluation of these claims.
“Unfortunately, we don’t seem to believe so much in scientific determination of issues. If not, by now, someone should have run a proper energy content analysis in a laboratory rather than the social media campaigns to deceive a public that has no understanding of octane ratings, operating conditions, and other parameters that affect fuel consumption.