There are indications that Nigeria may return to its origin the contaminated petrol which threw economic activities in the country into crises since last weekend.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority yesterday confirmed that the fuel scarcity and long queues recorded at filling stations nationwide resulted from an imported Premium Motor Spirit that contained large quantity of methanol, which had been discovered in the supply chain.
NMDPRA said the methanol is a regular additive in petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
The body however assured that the contaminate fuel “had been identified and appropriate sanction would apply.”
Yesterday a top ministry of petroleum resources said the contaminated petrol had been successfully eliminated and that over 100million liters of petrol Nigeria had been recalled by the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC and are ready for shipment back to the source. The source however did not name the source.
Despite this action commuters said they expect that the queues will only ease out by the coming weekend.
Nigeria does not refine crude oil due to the dormancy of its refineries, hence the NNPC imports the commodity from international refiners.
The NMDPRA further stated that the NNPC had intensified efforts at increasing the supply of petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.
Meanwhile, various oil sector, pressure groups have continued to engaged their members in order to reduce the losses they will encounter. President, Petroleum Products Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN), Dr Billy Harry, said his members are the worst hit in the circumstance.
He said PETROAN is currently collating on formation from members on the effect and impact of the contaminated fuel in their individual systems. “The damage is overwhelming on our members. We are currently taking stock. We hope to make a presentation to the appropriate quarters. There has to be remedies and compensations,” Dr. Harry said
The national president, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Debo Ahmed, said also his members had been put on red alert. “We’ve discussed with all our zonal and unit chairmen to tell their members not to sell the products. And some of the products that got to the depots were not released to the public.
“So on our part we’ve taken that precaution and we are waiting for the PPMC to call the trucks back to evacuate the products. So majority of the products are in the depots.”
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
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