Piplines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) has reactivated 22 ailing depots, making movement of petroleum products hitch-free in the last three years.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which commended PPMC for the progress said, yesterday that the reactivated depots were under system 2B.

In a commendation letter sent to PPMC, IPMAN also noted with delight, the renewal of facilities at Mosimi depot.

The statement signed by the chairman of depots and the zonal officers was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

“In a short while all depots that are not functional would soon be brought to life,’’ IPMAN said.

“We have also been informed of the extensive and expansion of the atlas cove jetty’’ and wish to congratulate PPMC for the effort to make products available nationwide with hitch.

“We have also noticed the determination of PPMC and NNPC to tackle the ugly problem of pipeline vandalism and the efforts to tackle vandals at black spots in Arepo and other areas is beginning to yield positive results.’’

The Zonal Chairman of IPMAN, Olumide Ogunmade, and Secretary, A. Idowu, were among the signatories.

Checks by The Tide source shows that aside the reactivation of the depots, PPMC had embarked on the activation of the pipelines connecting all the depots and the connectivity had reached 80 per cent.

Recently, PPMC released a catalogue of achievements, including 43.6 per cent reduction in demurrage and 80 per cent reduction in depot losses through strict internal control.

PPMC said it was a major achievement, the “reactivation of Northern axis of pipeline and pumping of petroleum products to Kano, Suleja, Jos, Minna and Gusau after about 15 years of stock out’’.

The company had also effectively managed products distribution and elimination of queues in filling stations since 2011.

It, however, identified incessant pipeline vandalism, obsolete equipment and lean budgets as some of its challenges.