DPR warns marketers against arbitrary price hike in petrol

Chinazor Megbolu |The Enugu State branch of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has warned petroleum products marketers against arbitrary hike in pump prices and illegal pump adjustments during the Yuletide.

The Operations Controller, Enugu Field Office, DPR, Mr. Okechukwu Okoro, said this during a stakeholders’ workshop in the State.

He stated that the oil and gas industry regulator would use a special surveillance team to monitor petrol and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) retail outlets to checkmate sharp practices by some marketers.

Okoro noted that it was unacceptable for unscrupulous marketers to cheat unsuspecting customers and warned that fraudulent stations found wanting would be sealed.

He also buttressed that the agency was disturbed by the construction and operation of oil and gas facilities as well as manufacturing of improper tools and storage facilities by unqualified individuals.

Okoro further pointed out that DPR had started a safety awareness campagn for the handling and marketing of petroleum products, especially LPG in the Enugu State.

He, however, said that the move had greatly increased safety awareness among operators in the rural areas.

He maintained that in spite of the progress made in the oil and gas industry, there were other issues that needed to be addressed in terms of the continued use of untrained staff in oil and gas facilities.

Okoro also frowned at the use of unaccredited vendors in the training of station workers and attendants, saying it’s a major setback in achieving safety in the sector.

“The good news is that most of these challenges have been addressed by the agency’s “Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operators” initiative.

“These are innovations that will make for a seamless execution of the DPR mandate of creating business opportunities and as a business enabler in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria,” he said.

Okoro added that the initiative would also ensure that all tools, facilities and industry operators comply with the DPR safety requirements and standards.

According to him; “we call on marketers to ensure that their permits and licences are up to date and the safety of their facilities and investments given topmost priority”.

Meanwhile, the Manager Operations, DPR, Mr. Atilola Akinyemi, in his remarks said the organisation was working to professionalise the oil and gas sector in a bid to reduce the inherent hazards.

“Considering how inflammable the oil and gas is, we do not want to play with how the sector is managed in order to get investors interested in it,” he said