BREAKING NEWS, Energy Briefs
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THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has assured the nation of uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide during the forthcoming yuletide season and beyond. Andrew Yakubu, group managing director, NNPC, stated this on Wednesday, November 20, in Abuja at the commissioning of customised P-56 Hydraulic Platform designed to combat eventual fire-outbreak at the four-tower NNPC headquarters in Abuja.
“As we speak, I can confirm that we have enough stock of petroleum products to last from now to the end of the yuletide season and even beyond. Throughout the year, we have kept the entire nation wet with products and we have the capacity to sustain the tempo,” he said.
The GMD appealed to consumers of petroleum products to refrain from any form of panic buying in anticipation of scarcity of fuel. On the new fire- platform, the NNPC GMD informed that the need to ensure adequate preparation against any eventuality necessitated the procurement of the modern fire-platform. He assured that the facility which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, would be made available for use in other high-rise buildings in Abuja and its environs. “In line with our Corporate Social Responsibility package, we are open to distress call from our neighbours.”
A Word for the Wise
THE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has threatened to sanction marketers that indulge in the construction of petrol stations without an approval. Mustapha Jahun, zonal operation controller, Kaduna zone, said the agency would no longer tolerate such illegal act.
He spoke on Tuesday at the 2013 DPR and petroleum marketers meeting in Kaduna. The controller said the agency had vowed to deal with marketers who sold petroleum products especially kerosene above the recommended price, warning that it would not hesitate to close down such stations. “We need to reiterate that DPK has not been deregulated by the federal government; the price of DPK remains N50 per litre. Marketers are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the N50 per litre government approved price,” he said.
Jahun also expressed concern at the proliferation of lubricant retail points operating without DPR’s licence, noting that the retailers often resorted to the sale of base oil as engine oil which had dangerous implications for motorists. “The renewal of the 2014/2015 operating licence is ongoing, therefore, marketers are requested to come forward and renew their retail outlets.”
Jebba Plant Increases Generating Capacity
MAINSTREAM Energy Solutions Limited, the new owners of Jebba and Kainji Hydro Electric Power Plants, said it has increased generating capacity of the Jebba plant from 380 megawatts to 450mw. The company, in a statement on Wednesday, November 20, attributed the capacity growth to the workers’ commitment.
Lamido Audu, managing director/chief executive officer, Jebba Hydro Electric, made this disclosure during the inauguration and handing over of some projects to the host communities by the company in Jebba. The projects include a 2.5KVA transformer for Mokwa community; a 500KVA transformer for Tatabu and another 200KVA transformer for Tsafa community. Others were public toilet facilities; relief materials and 10 boreholes.
Audu lamented that the Jebba plant had not been overhauled for over 30 years. He saide for the mean time, the company’s focus would be on sustaining what the existing facilities in the plant could give pending an intervention by the new owners. “The installed capacities of Jebba and Kainji put together are 1,500MW and the mandate as agreed in the concession agreement is that within five years, we should be able to recover all lost capacities in the two plants. We have 450MW in Jebba. Kainji, right now, is about 110MW and very soon, we are expecting another 80MW. That will make it 190MW, and as we move on, more machines will come. I am very sure that the investors will do all that they can to bring in enough capital to be able to rehabilitate the Jebba plant. Of course, one unit is down out of the six,” he said.
Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu
— Dec. 2, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT
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