Our members not responsible for distortion of LPG market - MOMAN

By Solomon Asowata

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) says its members are not responsible for activities distorting the Liquefied Petroleum Gas ( LPG) market which has led to increase in the price of cooking gas across the country.

Mr Clement Isong, Chief Executive Officer, MOMAN, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos.

Isong said  it was untrue that some marketers who are MOMAN members had formed a cartel which engaged in rejecting LPG supply from the Nigeria LNG Limited in their depots.

He said: "MOMAN wishes to state categorically that we are not a cartel, nor do we engage in manipulating prices of any petroleum products. 

"MOMAN strictly adheres to local and international regulations, laws, and best practices to ensure that it is not complicit nor create an impression that it engages in anti-competitive practices such as price fixing and price gouging."

According to him, in the the case of LPG, the market is dominated by local independent marketers.

Isong said the collective market share of MOMAN members either in terms of LPG storage or volume throughput was less than 5 per cent of the Nigerian market.

He added that it was therefore untrue to suggest that MOMAN membership could in any way influence the supply or price of the product.

"Finally, storage facilities for white products have different specifications and safety requirements different from storage facilities and assets for LPG and cannot be interchanged.

 "It is therefore wrong to suggest operationally that a marketer would prefer one to the other.

" A lot of investment in LPG infrastructure still needs to be made, hence government’s policy on the gas infrastructure fund," Isong said.

He commiserated with the Nigerian consumers who are struggling with the high costs of LPG caused by global supply challenges, high international prices, limited availability of foreign exchange and high exchange rates. 

Isong said MOMAN would continue to support government policies that encourage investments in the supply chain which will eventually optimise logistics costs and reduce prices. (NAN)

Ikeja Electric donates educational support materials to Lagos school

By Solomon Asowata

Ikeja Electric Plc has donated educational support materials to pupils of Odi-Olowo Nursery and Primary School, Idi-Oro, a suburb of Mushin in Lagos as part of is Personal Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) initiative.

The electricity distribution company made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by its Community and Media Relations Manager, Mr Akinola Ayeni.

The statement said this was in line with the DisCo's commitment to entrenching societal values and stakeholders.

According to the statement, Ikeja Electric has committed over N500 million since inception in philanthropic funding of projects aimed at bringing about social change in communities of operation.

It said the company mobilised its popular social investment vehicle called the ‘Give Back Team’ last week in a display of its usual dedication to touching lives, especially that of under-served communities.

Speaking on the company’s “Back to School” initiative, Business Manager, Shomolu Business Unit, Mr  Olanrewaju Yusuf stated that Ikeja Electric's belief in empowering students for academic advancement was not negotiable.

Yusuf said it would continue to get the utmost priority it deserves from the company. 

He noted that the choice of Odi-Olowo Nursery and Primary School for donation of educational materials was not only to rekindle the hope and interest of Nigerians in public schools but also to drive sustainable development in the educational sector.

 “Ikeja Electric recognises education as a fundamental tool in nation building and will stop at nothing to ensure education takes its rightful place in the country," he said.

Receiving the items, Head Teacher of the School, Mrs Simiat Adesiyan on behalf of the school, expressed gratitude to the Management of Ikeja Electric.

She noted the excitement that pervaded the atmosphere was evidently sufficient to gauge the Children’s satisfaction with the items. 

“I think the world will be better if other private organisations emulate Ikeja Electric’s commitment to touching lives positively”, she remarked. ( NAN)

Equipment: EKEDC urges concerted fight against vandalism

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 27, 2021 (NAN) Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has appealed to customers and the public to join in the fight against vandalism of its electrical installations.

The DisCo made the appeal in a statement issued by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia on Monday in Lagos.

Idemudia said incessant vandalism of electrical installations was one of the biggest challenges of EKEDC and other DisCos.

He said it was responsible for prolonged outages and development of the nation’s power sector.

According to him, it is appalling that while EKEDC is working tirelessly to ensure safe and uninterrupted power supply, some unscrupulous persons are sabotaging these efforts by vandalising
the equipment meant to serve its customers.

“Such acts are against the progress we are making and we will go the full extent of the law to ensure the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

“We appeal to our esteemed customers and the public to join us in this fight and report suspicious activities around our equipment to enable us serve them better.

“They can report through 08129929016 or via our whistleblowing email; whistleblower@ekedp.com or any of our social media platforms (Facebook: Eko electricity, Instagram: ekedpng).

“Customers can also report at any of our offices close to them.’’

According to Idemudia, these equipment are jointly owned by the company and customers and it is imperative for both parties to take ownership of securing them as they are partners in progress.

He added that the company needs the support of customers to achieve the overarching objective of a stable and reliable power supply. (NAN)

Expert urges power minister to chart new roadmap for secto

Mr Kola Balogun, Chairman, MEMMCOL

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 20, 2021 (NAN) A power expert, Mr Kola Balogun, has advised the new Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, to chart a new roadmap to address generation, distribution and transmission challenges in the power sector.

Balogun, who is the Chairman, Momas Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL) gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

He said there was need for a roadmap that would clearly define the goals of the power sector after seven years of privatisation without achieving the desired results.

According to him, the minister should engage in consultation with the stakeholders and come up with a comprehensive roadmap that will transform the sector.

Balogun said one of the ways to reposition the power sector was the decentralisation of the national grid.

He said: “Why do we continue to have a single grid that binds all of us together?

“We need to separate it in such a way that any state or local government can go into power generation and distribution to people within its area.

“If the power being generated is not enough, they can even buy from the national grid.

“So, power generation and distribution should be removed from the Exclusive List and moved to the Concurrent List.

“That is why we are advocating for franchising, so that Nigerians will enjoy more supply.

“The entire process should be done in a way that investors are able to get back their funds while their customers will get fair bills in line with global best practices.”

Balogun noted that more investment was needed in the sector to upgrade feeders, transformers and substations across the country.

“If you are given an area to manage and you are bringing your investment, you need to recoup your investment and make profit on your investment.

“Power sector requires long term investments and loans should be considered for investors in the sector bearing that in mind.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) needs to reorientate the commercial banks on what is required in the power sector and they should key in and become part of the process,” he said.

Balogun also called for an effective regulation of the sector, stressing that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) needs to be strengthened to carry out its statutory responsibilities.

He said: “NERC must be given the power to sack and appoint heads of power generation, transmission and distribution companies if the need arises just the way CBN is doing in the banking sector.

“There is an element of discipline that is required for us in the sector in order to have a way forward, and this is currently missing.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Leadership tussle: IPMAN president lauds police for enforcing Supreme Court judgment

By Solomon Asowata 

Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has lauded the Nigeria Police Force for its efforts at resolving the association’s leadership crisis.

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on, Friday, Okoronkwo said: “The leadership issue of IPMAN has been settled by a Supreme Court judgement delivered in Abuja on Dec. 14, 2018.

“The judgment read by Justice Musa Muhammad in suit No. SC15/2015 recognised my humble self and Alhaji Danladi Pasali as President and Secretary of IPMAN respectively.”

According to him, acting on this judgment, the police recently invited some persons in the Southeast claiming to be a faction of IPMAN for a meeting over the issue.

Okoronkwo said the move, which was directed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, was aimed at finding a lasting solution to the leadership tussle.

He said :” We are in a country guided by laws and the judgment of the Supreme Court must be obeyed as the final arbiter of cases in Nigeria.

“However, some marketers in Port Harcourt, Aba, Enugu , Calabar and Makurdi have refused to obey the judgment of the court which prompted the intervention of the police based on the advise of the Attorney General of the Federation.

“The police have therefore invited some marketers from Enugu over this issue.”

The IPMAN president dismissed threats by some of the marketers to withdraw their services in Enugu , Ebonyi and Anambra States following their invitation by the police.

Okoronkwo enjoined IPMAN members to go about their respective businesses without any fear of intimidation.

He said the association would continue to support efforts of the Federal Government to ensure smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

DPR reopens 8 petroleum depots sealed by LASPPPA

DPR officials unsealing one of the depots shutdown by LASPPPA at Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, Lagos on Monday.

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 13, 2021 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Monday reopened eight petroleum products depots shut down by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town area of the state.

Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Lagos Zone, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the sealing of the tank farms could have led to a huge disruption to the supply of petroleum products across the country.

He said the depots affected were
Wosbab Energy Solutions, Emadeb Energy Services Ltd., Mao Petroleum Ltd., Menj Oil Ltd., Oceanpride Energy Services Ltd.,A.A. Rano Nigeria Ltd.,AIPEC Oil and Gas Ltd. and First Royal Oil Ltd.

According to him, Ijegun-Egba has 13 tank farm operators which receive between 35 per cent to 40 per cent of petroleum products coming to Lagos before being transported to other areas.

Cardoso said: “We were told that LASPPPA sealed the depots today (Monday) for not having their planning permits.

“We don’t believe that is the right approach because these people are providing service to the nation and if you disrupt that service there will be fuel scarcity everywhere.

“This is why we are taking proactive action to immediately reopen the tank farms and if LASPPPA have any issue with the operators they should come to us to see how it can be resolved.”

He maintained that the agency lacked the constitutional power to shut the depots because the industry was clearly under the Exclusive List.

Cardoso said: “Oil and gas business is a regulated environment and we know from the 1999 Constitution that oil and gas are matters within the exclusive legislative List.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Assembly is endowed with exclusive power to execute on any item on the exclusive list.

“And arising from that constitutional power, the National Assembly enacted the Petroleum Act of 1969.

“This act regulates all matters relating to petroleum such as importation, handling, storage , distribution of petroleum and petroleum products and other flammable oils.

“This act also provides the granting of licence to import, handle, store, sell, distribute any petroleum product in Nigeria.”

He said as a result of this, all persons that engage in the business are licensed by the Minister of Petroleum Resources through DPR.

According to him, the DPR collaborates with other relevant Federal and State Government agencies for requisite permits and approvals before the issuance of the licences.

“So, any issue arising from the licensee you need to call on the licensor who is the federal government; then we will look at the issue and see how we can resolve it,”he said.

Cardoso also emphasised that the revenue collected by DPR on the licences would be shared by the the three tiers of government.

However, a LASPPPA source who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said the agency carried out a similar exercise in the area in 2020.

“We have also had several stakeholders discussion with the tank farm operators over the issue before taking this action, ” the source added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

FG prioritises energy security, transition to cleaner energy — DPR boss

Mr Sarki Auwalu, Director, DPR

) Mr Sarki Auwalu, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says
energy security and transition to cleaner forms of energy remain priorities for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Auwalu made the assertion at the hybrid Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Research and Development Fair on Thursday in Bayelsa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fair has as its theme: ‘Collaboration in Research and Development of the Energy Sector.’

Auwalu said the president had inaugurated the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre in Lagos with objectives of safety, cost efficiency and value addition, to guarantee energy security for Nigeria.

He said : “As you are aware, energy security and transition to cleaner forms of energy is a priority for the Buhari administration.

“To deepen gas penetration across the Nation, the year 2020-2030 has been declared the Decade of Gas to drive the Gas Expansion Programme, increase LPG penetration, Gas to Power, Gas Based Industries, Gas to People, Auto Gas etc.

“These are to serve as enablers for energy security, jobs creation, poverty eradication, a healthy environment, development of facilities in the gas sector, thereby creating opportunities for collaboration and revenue generation for government.

“The Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC) provides the contractual framework for gas transportation.

“The National Gas Expansion Programme is aimed at stimulating domestic gas supply demand and oil to gas substitution as transition fuel.”

According to him, the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act among other things, provides a framework for gas aggregation and penalties for gas flaring.

“Let me reassure you, the Nigeria oil and gas industry is on the path to affordable and reliable energy for all Nigerians, as well as transitioning to cleaner energy in line with net-zero emissions global target.

“I am therefore confident that gas is the future for Nigeria,” Auwalu said.

He noted that it was critical for the global oil and gas industry to remain efficient and innovative in responding to the emergence of cheaper renewables to sustain the relevance of hydrocarbon resources to the global energy mix.

The DPR boss said research and collaboration from all stakeholders were therefore crucial to remain competitive and to meet safe, clean and sustainable energy demands of the future.

Earlier, Mr Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary, NCDMB, explained that the fair was organised to highlight and emphasise the need for collaboration among stakeholders in overriding national interest.

He listed the achievements of the NCDMB to include establishment of the Nigerian Content Research and Development Council and the 10 years strategic roadmap.

Wabote said it also included creation of $50 million dollars research and development fund, support for local and indigenous research breakthroughs among others

NNPC’S declaration of profits will boost investor confidence, says industry expert

Wilson Opuwei, Chief Executive Officer, Dateline Energy Services Limited

By Solomon Asowata

Lagos, Sept. 8, 2021 (NAN) An oil and gas expert, Mr Wilson Opuwei, says the recent declaration of profit after tax of N287 billion for the year 2020 by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will boost investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.

Opuwei, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dateline Energy Services Limited, made the assertion on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN, in Lagos.

He said the declaration of profit by the NNPC, for the first time in 44 years, should be commended by industry stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians.

“It is great that the NNPC is now opening up its books to auditors for us to see how the company is being run.

“That level of transparency and accountability is what investors looking to invest in Nigeria are interested in.

“For the NNPC to declare profit in its audited reports, is a big plus for the industry because it will attract more investments,” Opuwei said.

He said it was, however, surprising that some people had been criticising the report, without a proper understanding of its significance.

“The critics of the timing of the announcement are only being political, because other National Oil Companies have been declaring their reports in the past.

“What the NNPC management did was to show that they can compete with their peers in the global oil market space and this is very significant, especially with the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act”, Opuwei said.

He urged the NNPC management to sustain the practice of entrenching accountability in the company’s operations in order to help reposition the oil and gas sector for national development. (NAN)  (www.nannews.ng)

DPR identifies 6 pillars for maximum economic recovery for oil, gas industry

Engr. Sarki Auwalu, Director, DPR

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has identified six pillars critical to its strategy for Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) for Nigeria's oil and gas industry.

Engr. Sarki Auwalu, Director and Chief Executive Officer, DPR, made the disclosure during a recent meeting with technical teams from the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. 

Auwalu noted that the objective of MER was to maximise the expected net value of economically recoverable petroleum from Nigeria's acreages.

He said the pillars critical to MER are:  Reserves Maturation and Production Optimisation, Exploration and Resources Maturation, as well as Improved Oil Recovery and Enhanced Oil Recovery (IOR/EOR) implementation.

According to him, it also include Asset Stewardship, Performance Evaluation and Rewards and Risk Management.

The DPR boss said this would help protect investments, business continuity and sustainability, improved collaboration and cost reduction in the oil and gas sector.

Auwalu said the Federal Government, through the MER strategies, was targeting to increase the nation's oil reserves from 36.91 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels in the short to midterm.

He said the government was also targeting increasing Nigeria's proven gas reserves from 206.53TCF to 250TCF.

Auwalu said as part of the MER's strategy, the DPR has initiated an 

an annual awards for companies, projects or individuals who have added value to the Nigerian terrain through improved and enhanced recovery of the country's oil and gas resources.

He said :"  As the part of the government's obligation,  it will encourage investment in Nigeria by creating a stable, competitive and  predictable business environment.

"The government will encourage existing technologies to be deployed to full effect to maximise full economic recovery of Nigerian resources.

"The government will also promote active exploration for new oil and gas resources in Nigeria and facilitate timely and effective data sharing."

The Director said it would greater access to the timely and transparent data be necessary for a competitive market.

He added that the DPR would work closely with industry stakeholders to deliver MER through collaborations, communication, cooperation and coordination.