Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has warned that it will not tolerate sharp practices and under-dispensing of petroleum products by petrol stations outlets.
To this end, the regulatory agency announced that any filling caught while under-dispensing products would be fined the sum of N250,000 per pump.
Zonal Controller of DPR, Port Harcourt Zone, Bassey Nkangha, disclosed this after a meeting with stakeholders, including downstream operators, retail outlets operators and depot facilities operators in Rivers State.
Nkangha also warned against hoarding of products by petrol stations, maintaining that the federal government has not increased the pump price of premium motor spirit, commonly known as fuel.
“We do not tolerate under-dispensing. By law that is why we were set up. I believe in quality, quantity, integrity and safety. We don’t play with it. If you are caught under-dispensing there is a fine per pump of N250,000.
“The marketers know. If there is anything that marketers in Rivers State dreads is being caught selling and or underdispensing. We call it pump efficiency and accuracy.
“If you are to sell one liter for N10 it must be one liter for N10. No cutting of corners in any way. We view that as an attempt to increase the price through the backdoor and we do not tolerate that.”
On the issue of increment in fuel price by filling stations in the state, the DPR Zonal boss said operatives of the agency are on surveillance across depots and petrol stations, to ensure compliance with stipulated guidelines.
Nkangha said the price of PMS remains N148.17 for depot price and between N162 and N168 per litre for retail price, emphasising that the Federal Government has not increased the pump price of fuel.
“As I speak, my people are already out there carrying out surveillance. Surveillance is not only for fuel stations, also in depots we have people there. We check through the deports to ensure that the prices they are giving is in line with stipulated guidelines.
“N148.17 has been stipulated, there is no increment. Government has stated that it has not increased price, we expect everyone to sell at the stipulated price.
“The DPR is there to ensure that fuel is given to consumers at the stipulated prices and at stipulated quantity, and also to ensure that petroleum products met specific standards and specification.”
