Stories by Benjamin Umuteme
Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured Nigerians that the days of fuel scarcity is over in the country.
The Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru said this in Abuja at the 2018/2019 crude oil term contract bid opening on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, the opening of bids is an indication of President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive for transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.
The GMD condemned the recent fuel shortage, which lasted a month, describing the corporation’s downstream counterparts as ‘unpatriotic’.
Although the fuel scarcity has ended in major Nigerian cities, filling stations in many towns outside Abuja now sell petrol at about N200 per litre against the N145 official price. The NNPC chief did not, however, speak on this.
“I am happy that this problem has been dealt with and the few pockets of non-compliance have been tackled.
“It was unfortunate that due to the behaviour of a few bad eggs, the Christmas was a pain. We hope you will never be part of this incident and we also hope this type of thing never happens in the future.
“NNPC is determined that this year there will be no fuel shortage. Definitely we have seen the last of it,’’ Mr. Baru said.
Mr. Baru warned those that would be selected after the bid against indulging in sharp practices.
He said NNPC’s focus was to enhance production volume, while ensuring that the “best value is realised through competitive marketing of our crude grades to international refineries and graders’’.
“In line with this aspiration, NNPC is collaborating with key stakeholders to improve the overall security of our production sites, crude export lines and other critical oil and gas infrastructure’’.
He urged the bidders not to patronise fraudsters who promise off takers selection assistance.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the bid ceremony, Mr. Baru said the evaluation would take three to four weeks, adding that 16 per cent of the crude was going to North America.
Also speaking, Mele Kyari, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division said “there would be no lobbying in lifting programmes’’.
“It is fully automated. The customer knows where and when they get their lifting and this is unparalleled.’’
Kyari said part of the procedure was that the companies selected must have a net worth of about 250 million dollars, turnover of 500 million dollars, letter of credit and years of experience.
254 companies are bidding for the off take of Nigerian crude grades as against 224 in 2017.
This round is the third call for bids under the present administration.
…Restores gas supply through ELP
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday said it has restored gas upply though the Escravos-Lagos pipeline (ELP).
It will be recalled that last week, a gas pipeline fire cut off supplies to six Nigerian power plants, shutting down the national electricity grid.
Many fear the pipeline fire had been caused by a bush fire.
”With the restoration of the ELP and resumption of gas supply, the affected power plants, with a combined generating capacity of 1,143 MW, would resume power generation,” the statement said.
