Financial Energy Review
Duke Oil, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPC) and an international trading company Litasco have been identified as the importers of the adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) currently in the market.
A source told Financial Energy Review that Duke Oil had engaged Litasco for the importation of the adulterated fuel as NNPC is currently the sole importer of PMS due to the the subsidy regime.
The Adulterated PMS was said to contain 20 percent methanol which is not acceptable to the Nigerian specifications and was discharged between 24th and 30th January by a Motor Tanker (MT) called Nord Gainer and five Marketers have been identified for receiving the adulterated fuel and have distributed it to their various outlets Nationwide.
Meanwhile the federal government says it has identified and ready to sanction the source supply but did not mention that NNPC subsidiary was involved.
According to the government the source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority.
In a statement the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (The Authority) wishes to inform the general public that – limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
“Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit
“Our technical team in conjunction with NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders, will continue to monitor and ensure quality petroleum products are adequately supplied and distributed nationwide”
NNPC Ltd and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide” NMDPRA said.
Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.
