DPR To Regulate Gas Retailing In Rivers

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), says it is poised to regulate the activities of gas retailers in Rivers State to ensure compliance to standards. Head of Gas Department of (DPR) in Port Harcourt, Mr Patrick Emordi disclosed this while speaking with newsmen during an inspection of gas retailing centres in Port Harcourt and its environs, at the weekend.
Emordi, said gas retailing without compliance to standards was hazardous to the society and stated that all gas retailers must duly conform to specified regulatory standards by DPR.
“The Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) as a regulatory institution is committed to ensuring standards in oil and gas operations. We have noticed that most oil and gas retailers in Port Harcourt and its environs are not conversant with these operational standards and as such, their activities pose health threats to the populace, we will ensure that all gas retailers are duty certified to comply with stipulated standards”.
Meanwhile, a body known as the Association of Surgace Tank Oil and Gas Retailers of Nigeria (ASTOGRN) has stated that modalities have been set to commence its process of membership registration and full-scale operation in surface tank oil and gas retailing in Rivers State.
A statement signed by the Rivers State Chairperson of the association, Hon Patience Uche, disclosed that the directives were from the National Executive of the association to commence the formal registration of Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) licences and (ASTOGRN) membership.
The statement said, the association has secured Federal Government’s approval to oversee the activities of all surface tank oil and gas retailers in the country, and urged all stakeholders to formally comply with the new policy by registering their storage tank business outlets with the body.
The body further assured to protect the interest of its registered members, noting that illegal operations in surface tank oil and gas retailing will be duly checked.