Matrix, Shafa, NNPCL set to distribute 100 million litres in Warri, Benin, others, as pump price drops from N700/l to between N500/l, N195/l
Oredola Adeola
. .as Edo State approves petroleum monitoring committee
The Matrix Energy Group, AYM Shafa and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) are collaborating to ease the persistent scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol in Warri, Effurun, Benin and other parts of the Niger Delta zone, following the deployment of five petrol vessels lifting a total of 100 million litres to Delta State.
This was confirmed by the two major marketers in a statement seen by EnergyDay on Tuesday.
EnergyDay gathered that the supply by the vessels was aimed at complimenting efforts of the major marketers in the axis and to ease the impact of petrol scarcity on the people in the region.
It was revealed that Matrix Energy and Shafa have reached agreement with independent marketers to supply and distribute the product on the sideline of last week meeting between the NNPC, Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and stakeholders in Abuja last week.
Our correspondent however gathered that the pump price in Benin has dropped from about N700 per litre to N500 litre in most filling stations, while Mobil and NNPC retail outlets sell at N195 per litre with long queues of motorists who often sleep overnight to fill their tanks.
The situation was the same areas such as Asaba, Effurun, Sapele, Ughelli and the environs, as people in the area confirmed to EnergyDay that petrol is has dropped from about N800 and N700 per litre to around N500per litre and N400 per litre while major marketers are getting supply directly from Matrix and selling at between N210 to N195 per litre to motorists.
A source told our correspondent that the vessels will be offloading the petrol to coastal depots in Delra state and evacuated to the depots in Warri Refining and Petroleum Company (WRPC), Warri, Oghara and Koko.
Marketers supplying in Benin, are expected to pick products from the depots in Warri to supply the state in the next few days.
Matrix Energy company in a circular release last week revealed the plan to commenced distribution of the product within the state.
The company in the statement said, “This is to inform you that our PMS vessel will be berthing today and loading shall commence tomorrow God willing.
The indigenous oil company promised to allocate volumes directly to those with valid NMDPRA permits and willing to sell at a regulated price.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo State Governor, on Monday approved the constitution of the Edo State Petroleum Monitoring Committee, in a bid to address the scarcity and arbitrary pricing of petroleum products in the state.
Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the Edo State Government, in a statement seen by EnergyDay on Tuesday, said the committee is made up of representatives from various organizations was charged with the responsibility of ensuring synergy among relevant stakeholders to ensure quick and sustainable resolution to the lingering issues for the benefit of the generality of the people.
Members of the Committee include Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Civil Society Organizations, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).”
Others are the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV), Edo Security Network (Vigilantes), Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) and HOSTCOM.
Delta State Government had in a report published by EnergyDay last week, also set up petrol task force to monitor the distribution of petroleum products from the point of delivery by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to the various discharge outlets across the state have also made significant impact since they were set up last week.
Our correspondent gathered that their impact was responsible for even distribution of the products across Delta State, thereby reducing the scarcity of the product.
The members of the monitoring team include the Commissioner for Oil and Gas as Chairman, representatives of the Commissioner for Information, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Army, and the Navy.
Other members include representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Tanker Drivers Union, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Rex Anighoro, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Oil and Gas will serve as Secretary.
