. As IPMAN, NNPC, stakeholders hold talks on way forward
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), yesterday, confirmed the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, with high methanol content in the market.
This comes as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), says it is in discussion with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC), and stakeholders on the imported substandard fuel.
NMDPRA however said the volume of the contaminated fuel is of limited quantity with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification.
Methanol is a regular additive in petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
NMDPRA said to ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit, according to a statement in Abuja.
It also admitted that the source supplier has been identified, and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority and NNPC Ltd without giving further detail.
It therefore assured that its technical team in collaboration with NNPC and other industry stakeholders would continue to monitor and ensure that quality petroleum products were supplied and distributed nationwide.
The statement reads in part: “NNPC Ltd and all oil marketing companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
“Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.”
NNPC Ltd and all oil marketing companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
Withdrawal of stock
Meanwhile, the National President, IPMAN, Chinedu Okoronkwo, disclosed that the Association is in talks with NNPC and other industry stakeholders on how to adjust the operational circle.
Okoronkwo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that petroleum marketers have been advised not to sell the contaminated product, especially marketers that loaded from that particular cargo.
He said discussion was ongoing with IPMAN, top NNPC echelon and other relevant stakeholders to prevent the vessel in question from discharging another substandard fuel, adding that the outcome would be made known to the public.
Okoronkwo said: “I want to assure the general public that there should not be any panic, there is enough fuel to service them and there is no cause for alarm because nothing will affect the public or the industry.
“This is the first time we are experiencing this and it is not an intentional issue, Nigerians should have to bear with the industry at large.”
On queues being experienced at some fuelling stations in Lagos, Abuja and other parts, he assured that there was sufficient petrol apart from the undiluted product which had been taken care of.
“There is enough fuel already in existence before this undiluted product, which has been taken care of. No fuelling station will like to put that in the tank neither will a car buyer do.
“But there are products on the road which have been loaded, as soon as it arrives Abuja and other states, there will be fuel before the week runs off,” he assured.
