DPR sanctions erring fuel stations in Delta, Bayelsa

THE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Warri Zonal Office, ver the weekend, sealed two petrol stations in Asaba, Delta State over offences bordering on under-dispensing and operating without valid licences in Asaba.

The petrol stations, Alpha Bykeez Limited and Dwell Pet, both situated on Okpanaun Road in the state capital, were shut down during routine surveillance led by Mr Bright Ogbeni, Manager, Upstream  of the DPR.

Ogbeni, who addressed newsmen on behalf of the Operations Controller, Warri Zonal Office of the DPR,  Mr Antai Asuquo, said: ‘As required, we usually come out routinely to stations dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to ensure they are dispensing the right quantities and confirm if they have valid operating licenses.

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“We go out routinely not only when there is fuel scarcity, but to ensure the right quality and quantity of product is being delivered to the public at a good metre factor, so that consumers can get value for their money.

“When you dispense PMS above the metre factor that is stipulated by the Federal Government, you are expected to pay a fine to the government.

“We have to ensure that defaulters rectify their metres to ensure it reflects the quantity they are dispensing, then call on the agency for inspection before reopening.

“We do the surveillance weekly or bi-weekly; we do random check without notification because when the marketers know that we are not on the field, they readjust their dispensing pumps, “ he said.

Asuquo, who hailed the level of compliance, said that the agency’s action was a wake-up call for other petroleum marketers to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the establishment and sales of petroleum and gas products.

“The level of compliance is not too bad,  some are under-dispensing and we have deployed corrective measures to ensure they dispense correctly to the public.

“We have something worth emulating at Chronicle petrol station. The metre factor is 10.24 which is within the acceptable range,” he said.

The operations controller warned the erring marketers against removing the seals without remitting the necessary fine to the government, saying that it was a criminal offence.

“After paying the fine,  the agency will come and unseal the station, “ he said.

Asuquo advised marketers to dispense at the right volume or be sanctioned.

The surveillance team also monitored many gas plants in Asaba.

It will be recalled that the officials of the regulatory agency had, on July 23, sealed nine retail outlets and two gas plants in Warri and environs.

In a related the development, the DPR has also sealed three petrol stations in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for failing to renew their operational licences and lack of safety equipment.

The affected stations were sealed when a team of DPR officials led by its Chief Technical Officer in  Bayelsa field office, Mr. Obi Ifi, paid unscheduled visits to some retail petrol stations across Yenagoa metropolis.

He noted that the department was on nationwide inspection to ensure that oil downstream and gas facilities adhere to guidelines, standards and regulations.

He said the department would continue to check gas refilling plants and petrol stations to ensure that they operate according to set standards.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the surveillance operation, he said “we visited many filling stations in Yenagoa, and we observed that the compliance to the N145 pump price is impressive.”

“But the major challenge is that a few were operating without valid licences, while others defaulted with regards to safety guidelines.

“We have sealed two filling stations for operating without licence, which is against the law. Some received warning for operating without functional fire extinguisher.

“We have taken this step because what they have done is not acceptable before the law. As government, we condemn this because operating without licence and not adhering to safety guildeline is dangerous to the people and the environment.

“In terms of metering, their compliance is impressive because the pumps are operating within tolerable limits. So, we want to encourage them to continue to sell at the official pump price,” he said.