The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its determination to guaranty uninterrupted supply of petroleum products during the yuletide season.
The assurance is coming on the heels of gradual emergence of petrol queues in the nation’s petrol stations in the last few weeks.
A senior Presidency source who spoke to our correspondents, on Thursday said despite attempt by some disgruntled elements to frustrate the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan, in reforming the oil and gas sector, “the government is determined to ensure that there is no return of queues in the nation’s petrol stations”.
“The government is working round the cloak to ensure that people have fuel during the Christmas and New Year period. President Jonathan has ordered the respective agencies to reconcile any problem in the distribution chain that may hinder the availability of the products during the festive season. He has also directed the ministry of finance and petroleum to ensure that all outstanding issues concerning the payment of subsidy claims are resolved,” the source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said.
The Source explained further that “as I am talking to you now, there are over 20 vessels loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) awaiting offloading at ports, in Lagos. The Federal Government has petroleum products that will last the nation through out the festive periods in the event of any emergency. However, we are optimistic that there won’t be any emergency”.
The Presidency source however lamented that “the only challenge that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is facing is that there are no enough tank farms to offload the products. The issue of availability is not the issue and with the present effort of the Federal Government in putting the pipelines lines in use for petroleum products distribution, it is certain that the government is overcoming the challenges of making petroleum products available to the Nigerian people”.
The source stated further that the ministry of petroleum resources and all stakeholders are working at full capacities to ensure that the 140 days deadline given by the president for the completion of the turn around maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries was met.
“You will recall that President Jonathan set March, 2013 deadline for the completion of the TAM and complete rehabilitation of three refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. This is part of the actions taken by Mr.
President after the submission of the reports by the committees set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Allison Madueke on the petroleum sectors,” the source stated.
The move to get the refineries functional, the source maintained is bornout of the low capacity productions in the three nation’s refineries.
At the moment, Kaduna refinery produces 110,000 barrels per day, Port Harcourt refinery 210,000 barrel per day and Warri refinery 125,000 barrel per day and “Mr. President wants action that can help improve the capacities of these refineries to make them perform at their optimum function,” the source said.