The current fuel scarcity will last longer than expected as there is no immediate respite as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) begins back-loading of the high sulphur-laden fuel it imported into the country last week, The Business Intelligence Africa (TBI Africa) has learnt.
The over 50,000 tons cargo – about 100 million litres dirty fuel had found its way into the Nigerian market before it was discovered,
According to sources, Total was the first to discover the off-specification fuel and immediately informed Ardova of the development.
Other marketers that are said to have received the contaminated consignment though not supplied across all their stations include Enyo, Northwest, Pinnacle Total and NIPCO. Azman Petroleum, which also got part of the consignment, is said to have transported its supply to Abuja.
The sources said the it would take at least eight days for a new cargo to arrive at the port, therefore, motorists will suffer the supply gap through this week.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in a statement noted that limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
NMDPRA said to ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.
Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
NMDPRA, the defunct Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
It noted that the source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority and NNPC Limited.
It assured that its technical team in conjunction with NNPC and other industry stakeholders, would continue to monitor and ensure that quality petroleum products were supplied and distributed nationwide.
“NNPC Limited and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
“Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.
