Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Niger Delta Youth Council has called on the Federal Government to issue licenses to artisanal refinery operators, as a way of curbing incessant scarcity and price hike on petroleum products in the country.
The National Coordinator of NDYC, Engr. Jator Abido, said artisanal refiners, commonly known as Kpofire, if given the opportunity, have the capacity to reduce prices of PMS to N60 per litre, N50 per litre for DPK and N80 per litre for AGO, as well as refine petroleum products in the country for export.
Abido speaking at recently at the Niger Delta Economic Discourse Series organized by GbaramatuVoice, accused the Federal Government of killing indigenous crude oil refining skills, claiming that artisanal refiners have the capacity to export their skills and products to other countries.
According to him, the current fuel crisis in the country and the increasing cost of diesel, portrays that the clamped down on local refining of crude oil by the artisanal refiners in the Niger Delta region was taking a toll on the nation’s economy.
“Artisanal refining licenses should be given to the owners of these kpofire camps, where the Federal Government will issue guidelines and other regulatory agreements that they should follow and any operator that defaults or contravenes the set guideline will have his or her license withdrawn.
“We can manage the oil and gas sector and bring the cost of production down to the barest minimum.
“During the time when the kpofire was in operation, the diesel used in Warri and other places in the Niger Delta was sold for less than N200 per litre. It is a sign that we have the capacity to drastically reduce the prices of fuel, diesel, kerosene in Nigeria.
“If kpofire operators are licensed to operate, fuel price will drop to as low as N60 per litre, diesel will be less than N80 per litre, and kerosene will be sold for N50 per litre.”
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