DPR to sanction illegal gas plant operators in Ogun

ANY filling stations operating Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Ogun State, without necessary approval from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) risk being sanctioned.

This was disclosed by the agency’s Operations Controller in charge of the State, Hajia Muinat Bello -Zagi, during a meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN), ijebu Zone, on Tuesday, in Abeokuta.

Bello-Zagi added that the Agency had issued a six months notice to gas plant owners to evacuate all Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants domiciled in filling stations.

She explained that the directive to sanction erring gas station owners came via a memo from the national headquarters stated that all filling stations with existing LPG facility popularly known as “Add-On” without necessary approval should as a matter of urgency, evacuate.

Bello-Zagi warned all illegal operators not to sell gas within the six months of the ultimatum, which serves as the period of evacuation plans.

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According to Bello Zagi, all applications for LPG Add-On facilities for the refilling of gas cylinders in retail outlets should not be received henceforth.

It, however, added that retail outlets with existing Add-On facilities for the refilling of gas cylinders with a valid permit to operate issued by the DPR should continue operations till December 31, 2020.

“Also retail outlets with existing approval to operate Add-On facilities must be converted to auto-gas, only for vehicular use, which must be in compliance with new LPG guidelines.

“The validity date of December 2020 should be specified in the case of renewal of permit to operate the existing LPG Add-On facilities,” she added.

The Vice Chairman of the association Alh Fatai Soewu commended the Department for ensuring sanctity in the oil and gas sector in the State.