In line with its official surveillance, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has seized a vessel, MT JAZI, found discharging Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) that does not meet the standard specifications for any white product.
The development happened at the vessel at the Nakem Jetty, Kirikiri, Lagos, on February 11, 2017.
Addressing pressmen on the matter, the Zonal Operations Controller, Lagos, DPR, Mr. Wole Akinyosoye, said “We proceeded immediately to halt the discharge and fiscalise the tanks at the Nakem depot, sequel to which we discovered that the facility was stocking a total of 1.5 million litres of product suspected to be discharged by the vessel.”
He noted that the Nigerian Navy assisted in the arrest of the vessel which it took to base.
Akinyosoye said the DPR has no record of any product importation by Nakem or any throughput arrangement of the facility with a third party for product storage at the time.
From checks on samples collected, DPR “It was confirmed that the product is actually off specification, having failed all the basic parameters, especially in regards to colour, flashpoint and specific gravity. The product being dumped at Nakem does not meet the standard specifications for any white product”.
“The DPR wishes to use this medium to reiterate its position on zero tolerance to illegal activities in the depots and on landing of off-spec products in the facilities. As we have always stressed, depot operators should be reminded that we will not tolerate the landing of products of untraceable sources at the depots.
“The department will continue to assiduously work to guarantee products’ integrity at the depots and forestall the flow of adulterated products into the retail outlets. Depot operators are hereby further reminded of the existing laws permitting vessel berthing and discharge operations between sunrise and sunset only and be guided accordingly”, DPR said.
