Meanwhile, Duke Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) cleared the air regarding its role in the importation of methanol-laden petrol into the country.
The Managing Director of Duke Oil, Mr Lawal Sade, gave the clarification at an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
Sade said the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) it imported met all specifications and standards required by the NNPC.
He said that the PMS imported by the company was tested both at load port and discharge port, and it was found to have met all the requisite specifications and standards.
Sade further said that discharge of the product could not have been possible if it was not certified to be of standard quality by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the joint inspection team.
The company assured the lawmakers and indeed all Nigerians of its commitment to the nation’s energy security, stressing that it was not possible for it to deliberately import sub-standard fuel.
Duke Oil also assured the lawmakers that all hands were on deck by key players in the industry to rectify the situation, adding that remedial actions have been taken to ensure consistent, smooth and safe supply of petroleum products going forward.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdullahi Gaya, on his part said members of the committee would study the written response submitted by Duke Oil on the matter and contact the company if there was need to do so.
