Nipco Strategic to Downstream Operation
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] has explained why NIPCO PLC remains a strategic partner with the corporation in the downstream sector of the nation’s oil and gas industry even as the company’s thru-put figures reached 1.8 billion litres of white products.
Henry Ikem Obih, the Group Executive Director/COD [Downstream], who was on a visit to the company’s premises in Apapa said three main explanations on the key positions of NIPCO in the sector with the seamless operation of the company in the storage and distribution if of petroleum products being topmost.
The GED said NIPCO can actually reach 2 billion litres distribution for the corporation very soon in view of its enhanced storage capacity and effective loading system among its peers stressing that ‘with what I have seen your operations is excellent coupled with good housekeeping and safety culture’.
The NNPC boss said the contribution of the company especially during the last fuel crises was splendid as she exhibited high sense of commitment to government desire to end the fuel queues by being the first operator in cargoes to augment NNPC stock.
According to him, NIPCO was able to perform this feat even in the face of shortage of forex to import petroleum products adding that this singular act is well noted and will continue to attract commendations by the corporation.
‘We appreciate your contributions at all times and to say that you are very key in our operations is stating the obvious just as we look forward to consolidating the relationship’ he noted.
The GED who commended the level of automation of the terminal said its impact is well noted in the smooth loading and receipt of petroleum products as highlighted in the organisation master control room during the visit.
The Group General Manager (GGL) Marine, NNPC, Makama Dalhatu who was part of the entourage, said the of the parley was to express deep appreciation to NIPCO and assert the corporation’s please with her operations.
In commending the management and staff, he said ‘NIPCO is an excellent example of how business should be run and very inspiring to be partnering with them in ensuring that the entire nation is wet at all times.’
Earlier in his remarks, Venkataraman Venkatapathy, Managing Director, NIPCO PLC, said the company has a good working relationship with the corporation and that the esteemed visit of the GED and his entourage us an affirmation of the existing mutual relationship of the duo.
He commended the diligent leadership of the management team of NNPC which has manifested in several facets of the nation’s oil and gas resources in recent times. Venkatapathy stated that under thru-put arrangement with the NNPC in which NIPCO stores and distributes white products to independent and major oil marketers who have bulk purchase arrangement with the Pipeline & Products Marketing Company [PPMC] Ltd., she has done 1.8 billion litres.
The thru-put arrangement came on board during the General Obasanjo administration in 2007 as panacea to the persistent pipeline vandalism which made NNPC to appoint some private terminal operators to store products on their behalf and distributes such to marketers with PPMC loading tickets.
The NIPCO boss pointed out that the company looks forward to the 2 billion litres target mark soonest as our own contribution to assisting government to store and distribute petroleum products across the nooks and crannies of the nation.