…We will revive refineries soon – NNPC
Opeoluwani Akintayo
19 March 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has tasked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Ore and Ilorin depots – both owned by the NNPC.
Alhaji Debo Ahmed, Chairman, IPMAN Western Zone, made the appeal in Lagos, as the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, also speaking in Lagos, assured on NNPC’s commitment to bringing the nation’s four refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt back to their optimal nameplate capacities.
Ahmed, who spoke against the backdrop of the inability of IPMAN members to import petrol into the country, also called on the NNPC to intensify efforts on the distribution of petroleum products to depots in the western part of the country, to address shortage in the hinterlands.
Ahmed said full rehabilitation of the Ore and Ilorin depots would ease loading and distribution activities within the western axis.
“We are very happy about the massive supply of petrol to depots within the western zone, which has the biggest depots in the country,” he said, adding: “The supply of petrol to depots has improved grossly in the western zone. We appeal to NNPC to maintain the tempo”.
“All depots within the western zone now sell petroleum products at government-regulated prices, compared to when petrol was sold above ex-depot prices,” he said.
Ahmed assured that his members would partner with NNPC officials to ensure the protection and surveillance of petroleum product pipelines, to curb incessant vandalism.
Meanwhile, NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Baru, has said the corporation would not relent in its efforts to get the nation’s four refineries back to their optimal nameplate capacities.
Baru said, as part of the ongoing reforms in the NNPC, the corporation had been holding important discussions with some companies to get the best funding options towards the refineries’ overhaul.
