DPR Shuts Filling Station, Seven LPG Plants In Rivers

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut down a filling station in Rivers State for dispensing adulterated products to the public.
The regulatory agency also shut down seven unlicensed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refilling plants in the state.
Zonal Controller, DPR, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Bassey Nkanga, disclosed this shortly after a two-day stakeholders’ meeting with petrol and gas station owners, including other operators in the downstream sector in Port-Hacourt.
Nkanga stated that the move was to buttress the department’s resolve not to compromise safety standards and the quality of petroleum products sold to the public.
He explained that the filling station located in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State was shut, following a tip-off from a customer, whose car developed a fault shortly after buying petrol from the filling station.
According to him, “there is a station now in Aluu that is shut down because one of the products they are selling does not meet our specifications and a good Nigerian called us because his vehicle had a problem. We rushed to shut down the station and we have concluded our investigations and working to see how we can make sure that that particular specification is corrected”.
The DPR boss explained further that the seven illegal gas refilling facilities were shut down during an operation by DPR officials, for not possessing a valid license, adding that the move would help avert possible explosion that may lead to loss of lives and property.
He continued, “Another team is out checking the validity of the license of LPG refilling plants and also checking to ensure that these safety requirements we are preaching are met. So, the team is already out. As at last week since we started, we have shut down about seven LPG plant operating without a valid license”.
Nkanga said that the DPR organised the stakeholders’ meeting with the petrol and gas station owners to enlighten them on some safety measures and to forestall fire outbreak and other disasters during the yuletide.
The zonal controller said, “Knowing the period we are entering and it is full of activities and we needed to at least sensitize and prepare our stakeholders, especially the operators of the downstream sub-sector in both petroleum product and gas, and to ensure that they keep their houses in order in terms of making sure that safety requirements are met in their operations.
“As you can see during the presentation, we have let them know certain things they must know, do and put in place to ensure that no incidence happens in our area especially during this time and beyond”.

By: Tonye Nria-Dappa