Reps to query MRS, Oando, others for importing methanol-lazed petrol

The chairman was responding to a question during the committee’s engagement with management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) on the current fuel situation in the country, on Wednesday.

However, MRS had in a statement signed by its managing director, Marco Storari said, “The allegation reported against the Company that MRS imported contaminated products, is therefore mischievous, false and untrue. MRS is not an importer of this contaminated PMS into the country, nor does MRS sell substandard products.”

But Mele Kyari, NNPC GMD, in a briefing, explained that all the defaulting suppliers have been put on notice for remedial actions.

He said the NNPC will work with the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to take further necessary actions in line with subsisting regulations.

Kyari explained further that as a standard practice for all PMS import to Nigeria, the cargoes were equally certified by inspection agent appointed by the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has met Nigerian specification.

He added, “It is important to note that the usual quality inspection protocol employed in both the load port in Belgium and our discharge ports in Nigeria do not include the test for percent methanol content and therefore the additive was not detected by our quality inspectors.

“In order to prevent the distribution of the petrol, we have ordered the quarantine of all un-evacuated volumes and the holding back of all the affected products in transit (both truck & marine).