The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it would clamp down
on illicit retailers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) popularly known
as cooking gas in Rivers.
DPR’s Port Harcourt Zone Operations’ Controller, Mr Bassey Nkanga,
told Journalists of the planned clampdown on the sideline of LPG
stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt.
He said it was now illegal for retailers to transfer cooking gas from
one cylinder bottle to another for sale to customers, an act commonly
done by roadside LPG retailers.
Plans are ongoing to clamp down on any LPG retailer involved in
decanting of cooking gas in shops and at homes.
We have set up a monitoring unit to arrest defaulters; seize their
equipment and sanction them, he said.
Nkanga said that the DPR was also engaging owners of filling stations
and other stakeholders to stop the sale of LPG in cylinders to
customers.
He said that the Federal Government was planning to end the
unwholesome practice in year 2020 due to attendant risks it posed to
lives, property and the environment.
We are telling the filling stations that it is risky for people to
carry cylinders to buy LPG from their facilities. So, government is
planning to phase it out in year 2020.
We want filling stations to also have auto-gas add-on plant inside
their facility, so that, those whose vehicle uses gas as fuel can
drive in and buy rather than in cylinders, he said.
Nkanga explained that auto-gas filling stations are filling stations
that do not sell petrol, kerosene and diesel but only sell gas to
vehicles.
He said the Federal Government was passioante to ensure LPG
utilisation as well as make available, quality and standard cylinders
to Nigerians at affordable prices.
According to him, DPR was providing the necessary support to
stakeholders to ensure that LPG becomes accessible to Nigerians in
line with government policies on LPG utilisation.
The Zonal DPR boss warned plant operators and depot owners against the
sale of LPG to unlicensed retailers and marketers.
We are giving two weeks (grace) for defaulters to come forward for
regularisation to renew their licenses.
Also, we are calling on those whose license has expired or obtain
licenses for those who do not previously have license and operating
illegally, to come forward.
DPR has mandate from the Federal Government to ensure that
stakeholders comply with safety guidelines as well as ensure that only
licensed LPG operators are allowed to operate.
We have the mandate to remove any form of delay in obtaining licences,
in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business
directive, Nkanga said.
Speaking, Mr Sam Okafor, Zonal Chairman, National Association of
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, commended the DPR for organising
the meeting and pledged the union’s commitment to governments’
policies on LPG utilisation.