The Department of Petroleum Resources has warned marketers in the downstream oil sector against operating without the requisite licences.
The Operations Controller, DPR, Lagos Zone, Mr. Olugbenga Kuku, who said this in a statement on Wednesday, advised marketers to renew their licences during the licensing exercise which would be begin in October.
He said the DPR would begin the normal process of renewal of licences from October, 2013 to February 28, 2014 for the 2014/2015 licensing period.
Kuku said, “We are, therefore, advising retail outlets to submit all applications for renewal promptly so as to facilitate early issuance of licences. Marketers who fail to renew their licences by February 28, 2014 may have their operations suspended.”
Kuku also said the DPR would introduce more stringent penalties that would involve revocation of licences of the marketers found engaging in malpractices in the petroleum product distribution network.
He warned marketers against all sorts of malpractices associated with product marketing and the downstream oil sub sector, adding that a new regime of stringent penalties against malpractices would begin.
This, he stressed, would involve licence revocation, saying the essence was to force the hands of the marketers to do the right thing.
He said, “We observed during our routine inspections of retail outlets in the year that some marketers had yet to fully conform to some of government’s directives. Some operators still operate with sub-standard price bill boards, even some choose to totally ignore the directive.”
He further said, “These attitudes have given to suspicion of sharp practices by such marketers. Some operators even encourage the operation of fake DPR personnel in their respective retail outlets. Also, some marketers engage in deliberate cheating by adjusting their pumps to maximise profits. Most are being penalised accordingly. The department will continue to impose necessary sanctions on erring marketers that violate petroleum regulations.”
He said this was central to the discussion with stakeholders during a recent Annual General Meeting of the DPR and retail outlets marketers.
Kuku explained that the AGM was “generally meant to provide a platform for us to appraise our performances, address militating circumstances and chart the way forward for a better industry practice.
“It is our belief that this forum will afford stakeholders a greater understanding of present development in government’s aspiration for the industry. It will also serve as a forum for better understanding on our operations.”