DPR unveils application to checkmate hoarding, diversion of petroleum products

Chinazor Megbolu

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has unveiled an application, Downstream Remote Monitoring System (DRMS) to be used in checkmating hoarding and diversion of petroleum products in Nigeria.

The Zonal Controller, DPR, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Mr. Bassey Nkanga, unveiled the platform at the weekend during a two-day stakeholders’ meeting with petrol and gas retail outlet owners and operators in the downstream sector.

The agency also noted that the application is for real-time monitoring of petroleum products in all the retail outlets and marketers operating in the country.

Nkanga explained the platform would also help marketers to monitor activities in their retail outlets as well as sold and available products even in their absence.

He pointed out the oil and gas industry regulator through the system, would evaluate the quantity of available products in all the filling stations from its office on a daily business.

“DPR has developed something so that wherever you are you can monitor your filling station, see what you sold and the quantity of products available.

“We did this to have records on daily basis to see what we have at the close of daily business. I can sit in my office and see your station and compare notes. It will enable you to know whether the people are cheating you. We also give you unique numbers and you can also generate your numbers.

“With the Downstream Remote Monitoring system monitors your filling station no matter where you are. It will address corruption and stealing and gives you real-time storage and sales.

“Each station has a unique number and location. We used the GPS in creating these unique numbers. Procedures to create the numbers will be given to you,” Nkanga said.

He further maintained that the agency closed a retail outlet for selling adulterated products and seven unlicensed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refilling plants in Rivers State.

Nkanga also posited that the DPR will never compromise safety standards and the quality of petroleum products sold to members of the public.

He, however, averred that the retail outlet located in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State was shut down when a customer, whose car developed fault after buying petrol from the facility tipped them off.

According to him; “there is a station now in Aluu that is shut down because one of the products they are selling does not meet our specifications and a good Nigerian called us because his vehicle had a problem.

“We rushed to shut down the station and we have concluded our investigations and working to see how we can make sure that that particular specification is corrected. If possible the station will go back to business if not it will remain shut.

“Another team is out checking the validity of the license of LPG refilling plant and also checking to ensure that this safety requirement we are preaching are met. So that our  team is already out as at last week since we started we’ have shut down about seven LPG plant operating without a valid license.

“Knowing the period we are entering and it is full of activities and we needed to at least sensitise and prepare our stakeholders especially the operators of the downstream sub-sector in both petroleum product and gas and to ensure that they keep their houses in order in terms of making sure that safety requirements are met in their operations.

“As you can see during the presentation, we have let them know certain things they must know, do and put in place to ensure that no incidence happens in our area, especially during this time and beyond”.