NNPC takes measures to ensure robust products supply

As the Easter celebration draws near, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has taken some pre-emptive steps to ensure petroleum products supply sufficiency across the country.

According to the Corporation, its products supply outlook for March to May, 2017, shows that steps have been taken to ensure adequate supply of diesel and aviation fuel, adding that it has in stock, a robust inland supply of over 1.2 billion litres of petrol sufficient for more than 34 days forward consumption.

For Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) NNPC said it will continue to import to supplement local refining.

Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria has released foreign exchange to marketers to import AGO and ATK.

In addition, NNPC has re-commissioned its strategic 479.2 kilometres System 2B petroleum products pipeline network which stretches from the Atlas Cove-Mosimi-Ejigbo-Ibadan, terminating at Ilorin which will enhance effective distribution of petroleum products nationwide, especially with the envisaged resumption of loading activities at the Mosimi, Ejigbo and Ibadan depots.

It also claimed that that its Calabar and Aba depots have been stocked with AGO while AGO load out at Kano depot would commence soon.

Meanwhile the three NNPC refineries are producing additional volumes of 4.6 million litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene otherwise known as kerosene and 7.7 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil otherwise known as diesel currently

Anibor Kragha, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Refineries, while making a presentation before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream on the current status of the refineries at the National Assembly Complex made this disclosure.

Kragha said the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) are all back on stream.

“The refineries are all running, they are producing and they are all fully re-streamed. We are ready to take Distinguished Senators of this committee on a facility tour of all of them on a date that is convenient for the Senators to have a first-hand status of the refineries,” Kragha assured.

He further noted that efforts are also underway for the refineries to commence the production of Aviation Turbine Kerosene otherwise known as Jet A1 fuel.

The COO, Refineries informed that the Corporation is also working on a holistic strategic plan to ensure the operational integrity of the refineries adding that the challenges of ageing equipment within the refineries are surmountable.

He assured the Committee that the NNPC would continue to work hard to ensure the availability of petroleum products nationwide, stressing that the refineries were also producing Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol.

Kabir Garba Marafa, Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum Downstream, however assured the NNPC of the Committees’ readiness to continue to provide strategic support to the Corporation in order for it to meet its statutory mandate.

Olusola Bello