TOP STORY: NNPC Names Importers Of 100m Litres Adulterated Fuel | READ DETAILS

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, have named companies who imported about 100 million litres of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as Fuel.

Long queues and scarcity had been recorded on Monday and Tuesday in fuel stations in some states; Lagos, Abuja, Nassarawa, etc which was later attributed to adulterated products distributed by the NNPC.

The adulterated fuel had made some affected stations to lock up while vehicle owners who fell victim had their car engines knocked.

Holding a press conference on Wednesday night, February 9, 2022, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, explained that the adulterated fuel came into Nigeria from Belgium undetected.

According to Kyari, the presence of high methanol was not detected by quality control officers from the importation point to the destination point because the quality checks do not include checks for Methanol percentage.

“It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors.

“On 20th January 2022, NNPC received a report from our quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium.

“It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors”the GMD said.

Companies who imported the adulterated PMS according to Kyari are; MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando, and Duke Oil.

 

Full text of his press briefing read;

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us at this press conference.

1. We wish to update our customers and the public on the ongoing efforts by NNPC and other stakeholders to resolve the issues generated by the unfortunate supply and discharge of methanol blended gasoline (PMS) in some Nigerian depots.

 

2. On 20th January 2022, NNPC received a report from our quality inspector on the presence of emulsion particles in PMS cargoes shipped to Nigeria from Antwerp-Belgium.

 

3. NNPC investigation revealed the presence of Methanol in Four (4) PMS cargoes imported by the following DSDP suppliers namely:

 

Importer Vessel Name Load Port

1 MRS MT Bow Pioneer LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium

2 Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium MT Tom Hilde

3 Oando MT Elka Apollon

4 Duke Oil MT Nord Gainer

 

4. Cargoes quality certificates issued at load port (Antwerp-Belgium) by AmSpec Belgium indicate that the gasoline complied with Nigerian Specification.

 

5. The NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem and G&G conducted tests before discharge also showed that the gasoline met Nigerian specification.

 

6. As a standard practice for all PMS import to Nigeria, the cargoes were equally certified by inspection agent appointed by the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has met Nigerian specification.

 

7. It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for Percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors.

 

8. In order to prevent the distribution of the petrol, we have ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine).

 

9. All defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions and NNPC will work with the authority to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.

 

10. NNPC wishes to reassure Nigerians that we are currently sourcing additional cargoes to ensure product sufficiency