By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Nigerian Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has blamed the recent thunderstorm for the return of fuel queues in some parts of the country.
The agency in a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Olufemi Soneye, on Monday said the weather disruption has disrupted the ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
The weather, according to the disclosure, made it difficult for the STD to happen between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels, adding that the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, disrupting station supply logistics.
The clarification came following reports of long fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.
Business Post gathered that scarcity has pushed prices to as high as N1,000 per litre in some places, with private depot owners reported to have hiked the ex-depot price from N630 to N720 per litre.
Mr Soneye also said that due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
It said, “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the fuel queues seen in the FCT and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from a recent thunderstorm.
“The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
“The NNPC Ltd also states that due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose a severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” the statement explained.
The NNPC also said it was working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore a seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
Already, the company said loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and it is hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will restored.
The NNPC also called on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding petroleum products.
Dipo Olowookere