Introduction — The Truth Buyers Must Understand Before Approaching Any Refinery

Every serious petroleum buyer dreams of connecting directly to the refinery.

But 99% of buyers fail because they don’t understand:

• How refineries operate legally

• Why refineries almost never talk to random buyers

• Why refinery allocations are tightly controlled

• Why fraudsters pretend to be “refinery mandates”

• Why refineries require strict compliance before responding

• Why you must go through specific authorized channels

The petroleum industry is extremely regulated, and real refinery access is never through WhatsApp, Telegram, or brokers with Gmail accounts.

This article explains how to legally approach refineries, how to verify real refinery channels, and how to avoid the scams that destroy 80% of new buyers.

SECTION 1 — Context: How Refineries Actually Work Internally (Not What Brokers Tell You)

1.1 Refineries Sell in Three Ways — Not on Social Media

Refineries distribute product through:

1. Direct Internal Sales

→ Government entities, national distributors, state oil companies.

2. Long-Term Offtake Agreements (LTOA)

→ Supermajors: Shell, Total, Vitol, Trafigura, Glencore, BP.

3. Allocated Sellers & Contracted Traders

→ Tank farm owners
→ Large international trading houses
→ Licensed mandates (very rare)
→ Allocation holders

Refineries DO NOT:

❌ Respond to cold emails
❌ Speak to buyers directly on WhatsApp
❌ Sell to random intermediaries
❌ Release POP before compliance
❌ Provide procedures outside their official model

1.2 Why Refineries Rarely Work Directly With End Buyers

Because refineries must protect:

• Sanction risk

• Financial liability

• Production capacity

• Tank allocation

• Government relationships

• Internal risk compliance

Refineries cannot take chances with buyers whose:

• KYC is incomplete

• Bank is unknown

• Background is unclear

• Demand is unrealistic

1.3 90% of “Refinery Mandates” Online Are Fake

This is the biggest scam in the industry.

Real refinery mandates:

• Use domain emails

• Are listed in refinery procurement portals

• Never chase buyers

• Never offer discounts

• Never share refinery documents freely

Scammers, on the other hand:

• Use Gmail

• Send fake POP

• Promise impossible quantities

• Ask for upfront fees

Understanding this prevents you from being scammed.

SECTION 2 — How to Legally Connect With a Real Refinery (A–Z Institutional Breakdown)

Below are the real institutional pathways accepted worldwide.

2.1 Method #1 — Through Official Refinery Procurement Channels

Real refineries have:

• Registration portals

• Vendor qualification requirements

• Compliance procedures

• Corporate security checks

To get accepted, buyers must submit:

• Full KYC pack

• Corporate profile

• UBO declaration

• Bank profile

• POF readiness statement

• Trade history

This is the most legitimate method.

2.2 Method #2 — Through Licensed International Trading Houses

Supermajors and large traders have direct refinery access:

• Vitol

• Glencore

• Trafigura

• Shell Trading

• BP Trading

• Mercuria

• Gunvor

These companies receive refinery allocations and resell.

This is the primary route used by 90% of the world’s market.

2.3 Method #3 — Through Verified Allocation Holders

Allocation holders are entities with:

• Long-term refinery contracts

• Tank access

• Slot ownership

• Lifting rights

• Ongoing refinery supply agreements

You must verify allocation through:

• Corporate domain email

• Allocation number

• Production contract reference

• Tank farm confirmation

• POP AFTER compliance

Never before.

2.4 Method #4 — Through Real Tank Farm Operators

Some refineries appoint tank operators to handle:

• Offloading

• Storage

• Injection

• TTT / TTV

• Q&Q / SGS

Tank farms with refinery partnerships are legitimate channels.

Examples:

• Vopak

• Oiltanking

• VTTI

• Horizon Fujairah

• Stolthaven

• Jurong Petrochemical Complex

2.5 Method #5 — Through Government Petroleum Boards

In some countries, refineries only sell through national agencies:

• ADNOC (UAE)

• ARAMCO (Saudi Arabia)

• SOCAR (Azerbaijan)

• NNPC (Nigeria)

• Petrobras (Brazil)

These entities require the highest level of compliance.

SECTION 3 — NNRV Expert Analysis: The 12 Red Flags That Prove a “Refinery” Connection Is Fake

1. Gmail or Yahoo email

Real refinery mandates use domain emails only.

2. POP offered before ICPO + KYC

No refinery releases POP before compliance.

3. “Huge discount” promises

Refineries DO NOT give discounts.

4. Middlemen with no domain website

Professional fraud indicator.

5. No verifiable corporate registration

Invalid intermediary.

6. No LinkedIn footprint

Real petroleum professionals always exist on LinkedIn.

7. No refinery portal registration

Every legitimate refinery has one.

8. Requests for upfront fees

Refineries NEVER require upfront payments.

9. Fake tank storage agreements

Unverifiable TSA = fraud.

10. Fake SGS reports

Often recycled, forged, or outdated.

11. Pre-prepared SPA without KYC

Totally impossible legally.

12. Quantities above refinery capacity

If someone offers “5M MT/month” → scam.

SECTION 4 — Step-by-Step: How to Connect to a Refinery Legally Without Being Scammed

Step 1 — Build a Compliant End Buyer Profile

Refineries require:

• COI

• UBO

• Passport

• Company profile

• Bank profile

• POF readiness

Step 2 — Identify the Right Refinery Channel

Choose:

• Direct

• Trader

• Allocation holder

• Tank farm

• Government office

Step 3 — Submit Corporate KYC First

Never send ICPO before KYC.

Step 4 — Receive SCO From Verified Channel

SCO must come from domain email.

Step 5 — Align ICPO With Seller Procedure

Refineries only follow their own procedure.

Step 6 — Pass Compliance Screening

AML + sanctions check.

Step 7 — Receive SPA (After Approval)

Not before.

Step 8 — Proceed to POF + SWIFT Sequence

MT199 → MT799 → MT760 → MT103 depending on model.

Step 9 — POP Released After SPA + POF

Never before.

Step 10 — Execute the Transaction Safely

TTT / FOB / CIF depending on structure.

SECTION 5 — Buyer & Seller Questions (20 Institutional Answers)

10 Buyer Questions

1. Can I bypass intermediaries? (No.)

2. Can I talk directly to refinery? (Only through official channels.)

3. What documents do refineries require?

4. Can I get POP before POF? (Never.)

5. How do I verify allocation?

6. What bank is best for MT799?

7. Why are discounts impossible?

8. Can a refinery mandate accept commission?

9. Do refineries allow small trial shipments?

10. Can NNRV pre-check the seller? (Yes.)

10 Seller Questions

1. How do I filter real buyers?

2. Should I request KYC before ICPO? (Yes.)

3. How do I verify POF?

4. Should I use MT799 or LC?

5. How do I avoid broker chains?

6. What red flags indicate fake buyers?

7. When should SPA be issued?

8. When is POP released?

9. Should I work with NNRV for buyer screening? (Yes.)

10. What is the minimum buyer requirement?

SECTION 6 — Why This Method Is Recognized Globally

This process follows:

• ICC Incoterms 2020

• Basel III standard

• FATF AML/CFT rules

• SWIFT MT protocols

• ISPS port safety regulations

• Refinery procurement compliance

• OFAC/EU/UN sanctions enforcement

It mirrors the workflows of:

• Shell Trading

• Vitol

• Trafigura

• Mercuria

• Glencore

• BP Trading

• TotalEnergies

SECTION 7 — Professional CTA

📌 Need to Connect Legally to Verified Refineries Without Being Scammed?

NNRV Trade Partners provides:

• Refinery channel verification

• Buyer compliance structuring

• KYC/UBO validation

• Legal seller-side due diligence

• Allocation verification

• SPA alignment and procedure review

• Full anti-fraud screening

📩 info@nnrvtradepartners.com
🌐 www.nnrvtradepartners.com

Your refinery connection will follow institutional standards, not social-media shortcuts.

Mini FAQ (5 Key Questions)

1. Can I connect directly to a refinery?
   Yes, but only legally through verified channels.

2. Can I get POP before POF?
   Never.

3. How do I avoid fake refinery mandates?
   Check domain email, registration, and allocation.

4. Does NNRV verify allocations?
   Yes.

5. Do refineries accept small buyers?
   Only with full compliance.

Why Choose NNRV Trade Partners?

• Global refinery access

• Verified seller networks

• Institutional-level compliance

• Zero-fraud due diligence

• Legally structured connections

• End-to-end transaction guidance