The NNPC GMD also addressed the reason why there has been shortage of petrol in Abuja, Lagos, and some other states, leading to queues at fuel stations.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari has disclosed how ‘adulterated’ Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, was brought into the country.
The fuel came in from Belgium undetected.
Kyari, in a late-night briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, also identified the companies that brought it in the bad fuel.
The NNPC GMD also addressed the reason why there has been shortage of petrol in Abuja, Lagos, and some other states, leading to queues at fuel stations.
According to him, the bad fuel was imported into the country by four importers from Antwerp, Belgium with quality inspectors failing to detect the high level of Methanol in it, that is, in Belgium and at the point of arrival in Nigeria.
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He said, “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."
Though the NNPC boss did not give the date of import, he disclosed that the NNPC found out about the situation late in January.
He said, “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,” he said.
“NNPC investigation revealed the presence of Methanol in Four (4) PMS cargoes.”
He listed the companies as MRS, Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium, Oando, and Duke Oil.
MRS used the vessel, MT Bow Pioneer; Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikifi/Brittania-U Consortium imported the product via the vessel MT Tom Hilde; Oando used the vessel MT Elka Apollon, while Duke Oil imported its PMS using MT Nord Gainer.
According to Kyari, the Methanol in the PMS was not detected by checks because the quality checks do not include checks for Methanol percentage.
He said, “Cargoes quality certificates issued at load port (Antwerp-Belgium) by AmSpec Belgium indicate that the gasoline complied with Nigerian Specification.
“The NNPC quality inspectors including GMO, SGS, GeoChem and G&G conducted tests before discharge also showed that the gasoline met Nigerian specification.
“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.
“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.”
He noted that the NNPC was sourcing additional cargoes to meet PMS demands.
He added that the NNPC had "ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine)”.
The NNPC boss said the suppliers of the product had been “put on notice for remedial actions and NNPC will work with the authority to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations”.
The NNPC GMD's Full statement:
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