Oil & Energy
NMDPRA To Clamp Down On Illegal Oil And Gas Facilities
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has issued a stern warning to investors and operators erecting oil and gas facilities without due consultation or regulatory approval.
The Regional Coordinator, South-South, of the Authority, Engr. Victor Ohwodiasa Ojiyovwi JP, gave the warning in Port Harcourt, describing the proliferation of illegally sited filling stations and gas plants across Rivers State as worrisome and unacceptable.
Ojiyovwi said the Authority is poised to clamp down on all illegally constructed or wrongly located facilities to ensure public safety and protect investors from financial losses.
“It has come to our attention that some dealers and investors go ahead to build filling stations or gas plants without consulting the Authority. This is wrong and dangerous.
He explained that before setting up any petroleum-related facility — whether a filling station, LPG plant, mini depot, or CNG refilling station — proponents must first obtain the License to Establish, License to Construct, and License to Operate, beginning with a site suitability inspection conducted by the NMDPRA.
“Many people invest wrongly because they fail to verify if a site is suitable for the kind of facility they want to build. We carry out site suitability inspections to ensure that such locations are safe and fit for purpose,” Engr. Ojiyovwi said.
The NMDPRA Regional Coordinator further stressed that one of the critical reasons for regulatory involvement is to ensure compliance with safety distances between petroleum vessels, stations, and adjoining properties, noting that violations could lead to catastrophic outcomes.
“When critical safety distances are not maintained, the risk of fire or explosion is very high. But when those distances are observed, casualty levels in the event of an accident are almost zero.”
Engr. Ojiyovwi therefore urged all existing and intending investors to consult the Authority before committing funds into any oil and gas facility to avoid losses and ensure public safety.
“Our office is open to everyone. You can walk in or go online to review the requirements. It is better to consult the NMDPRA first before you start building. We will assess your site and guide you properly,” he added.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NMDPRA to sanitizing the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors, ensuring that only safe and compliant facilities are allowed to operate within the South-South region.