4 Illegal Gas Plants, 53 Filling Stations Sealed

• 4 Illegal Gas Plants, 53 Filling Stations Sealed

The Department of Petroleum Resources on Tuesday announced it has sealed four illegal gas plant and 53 filling stations for hoarding, diversion to neighbouring countries and selling petrol above regulated price.

Alhaji Isa Tafida, DPR Zonal Controller, Kaduna Office, disclosed this on Tuesday after monitoring Kaduna metropolis.

Tafida said the four gas plants were operating without a valid licence, saying two of the gas plants were actually operating illegally in the state capital.

He said out of the 354 filling stations inspected by DPR between the month of July and August, only 53 fell short of the required standards and they have been sealed off in accordance with their rules.

Breaking down the offences of the 53 filling stations, the Controller said 11 filling stations were sealed for under-delivery, one for over-delivery while the remaining 40 were shut down for non-compliance and adherence to safety regulations.

Tafida further stated that one of the 53 stations was sealed for diversion of fuel to neighbouring countries of Niger and the Chad Republic.

He said, “The Department of Petroleum Resources is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and supervising the activities of oil and gas industry across the country.”

“In furtherance of this statutory mandate, the Kaduna Zonal Office of the DPR has intensified its operation within the month of July/August aimed at checking product hoarding and diversion, selling above regulated products above the approved pump prices, under dispensing petroleum products, stations operating without valid licence or expired licence as well as operating under unsafe condition and non – adherence to minimum safety standards.

“In the month of July and now, a total of 354 petrol stations were visited and were found selling products below or at the approved pump prices of N143 to N145 per litre while 19 gas refilling plants were also visited.”