The Nigeria Association of Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has commissioned a multi-billion Naira complex and resource centre.
Speaking at the commissioning recently in Lagos, the President of the association, Mr Basil Ogbuanu, congratulated the members for having a clear vision that has been well natured by successive administration since the formation of NALPGAM about 30 years ago.
According to him, “this project being commissioned today is the first project of common heritage to be embarked upon, completed about being put to effective use in the history of the Nigeria LPG industry. The building will serve as a one-step centre for all relevant data collection and achieves for all LPG related information which will be eventually be equipped and backed up with the required human and material resources that will positively impact the industry over time.
“Your presence here today signifies the importance you attached to the development of Nigeria LPG industry in general, growth and the continued active of NALPGAM as the integral and very strategic segment of the industry in particular.
Over the years, the industry has gone through different era of erractic, inadequate and import dependent supply of LPG into the Nigeria market but the situation has since changed for the better at the intervention of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG)’s LPG domeatic supply scheme.
“This positive development has not only guarantee steady supply of LPG but it has equally stimulated the market, attracted investors across the value chain and ultimately created additional job opportunities.”
He commended the federal government for its effort and other stakeholders for their efforts, particularly Pipelines and Product Marketing Company Limited (PPMC, NIPCO PLC and other NLNG appointed LPG off-takers for their unquantifiable and indirect contributions to the success story of NALPGAM.
“Today, the commissioning of the NALPGAM House is a further testimony that the growth potentials in the LPG industry is on the incline. My joy essential is deprived from the fact that the actualization of this dream despite all odds and challenges has at last become a reality. I hereby humbly state that our number one agenda on the 5- point Agenda which is to aggressively reposition NALPGAM has eventually paid off.
My acknowledgment and appreciation of good deeds and sacrificial commitments to the cause of NALPGAM will be incomplete without the mention of the key facilitators and our catalyst of accomplishment. It is on this note that I seize the opportunity of this moment of celebration on behalf of the council and the entire membership of NALPGAM to express our profound gratitude to the Board of Directors and management of ALPGAM Energy Limited for standing by our Association through the thin and thick seasons.
“I hereby reiterate that my administration will continue to align with all credible programmes and other initiatives by stakeholders which are in tandem with government regulatory frame work that is devoid of any form of exploitative tendencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said it will commence investigation into berth constraints of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels in Lagos jetties.
PPMC’s Managing Director, Alhaji Ahmed Farouk, who spoke at the NALPGAM commissioning at the weekend stated that the issue of PPMC officials involved in diverting LPG vessels to private jetties will be looked into.
Responding to questions from journalist, PPMC’s Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, Mr. Justine Ezeala, who represented Alhaji Farouk, said the issue of PPMC official colluding to divert LPG vessels to private jetties is new to noting that steps will be taken to address the situation.
“I am hearing this for the first time, I have been Executive Director for nine months and I am hearing this for the first time but I am not holding brief for anyone but if this is substantiated we will take steps
“If you have any evidence please bring it to my notice, no one in their right minds will take that step to frustrate efforts of bringing LPG closer to the people but I will look into it, thanks for bringing it up,” Farouk said.
Commenting on other berth constraints factors of LPG vessels, Alhaji Farouk said the aging government jetties of over 40 years which receives different petroleum products vessels including LPG is a huge factor noting that efforts are ongoing to improve their efficiencies by working with relevant stakeholder.
“The jetties are over 40 years old when they were built, obviously it wasn’t what was expected but right now what we are basically trying to do is to improve the efficiencies.
“We are trying to work with our partners to ensure that we can sequence vessels to berth better; use the facility that we currently have and I think if we use it efficiently we will still be able to make progress until we are able to build additional jetties but right now, those jetties are 40 years old and so there will definitely be some constraint,” he said.
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