Duke Oil, one of the companies accused of importing adulterated petrol, has said its 37,000 metric ton of PMS imports is not part of the toxic fuel in circulation in the country.

Managing Director of the Company owned by the NNPC, Lawal Sade, told the House of Representative Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream investigating the importation of toxic fuel that immediately it was informed about the presence of methanol in the PMS, it gave order that it should not be distributed.

Responding to a question whether information making the round that Duke Oil supplier the toxic fuel in circulation, Sade said the about 37,000 metric tons supplied has not been distributed.

He said: “That is false. we supplied almost 37,000 metric tons and this has not been distributed. it was quarantined. To the best of my knowledge, it is quarantined.

“Immediately we got communication that there is methanol in the product, we sent an email to PPMC to suspend loading the product until further recertification is done.”

He added: “Coming to the crux of the matter, the supply of the PMS to NNPC on board NP Note gariner, with IMO no 947720 with bill of lading dated January 7, just to give a background as well, In November 2021, NNPC issued a request as part of the strategic restocking to national energy security.

“Based on that subsisting contract with NNPC, Duke Oil engaged one it’s registered counterparts and supplier, which is Sahara energy resources and it assigned a back to back contract for the supply of the Nigerian spec of PMS cargoes in an effort to fulfil the NNPC request.

“In line with the counterpart supply with Sahara energy, Sahara now nominated an empty note gainer as a performing vessel for the delivery of the first PMS cargo within.

“Mr Chairman, yes, there was a delivery of cargo by Duke Oil like you have seen in the report and that cargo met up with the Nigerian spec as it is both at the loading and discharge ports.

“There was a confirmation by the regulator which is the new Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Regulatory Authority to discharge that cargo within the stipulated date.

“The cargo discharged and the vessel sailed. It was just after 24 hours of operation that, Duke Oil was notified by the NNPC that there was a complaint from some of their customers that the cargo has some particles.

“With the notification from PPMC/NNPC, the management of Duke Oil immediately authorised the NNPC not to evacuate the cargo any further and requested for a recertification.

“But it is important we reiterate the fact that the cargo has been certified by the midstream and then, there is a joint inspection before the discharge and the specification provided in the contract with NNPC meet up the Nigerian specification.

“And then, some remedial actions were taken immediately. To conclude the report and give an assurance to this Hon. Committee and indeed, all Nigerians that Duke Oil is a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPC and commercially driven company.

“We are not just in business to make money, but also to guarantee the energy security of our great nation and we never compromise the quality of the product we supply to Nigeria and any other place we do business and we will always seek to maintain this positive position.

“Duke Oil had no prior knowledge and was not notified by the supplier via any communication about the presence of methanol addictive in the cargo procured and all relevant quality certification at ports both load and discharge ports did not attest to the presence of methanol until when the cargo has been received by NNPC.

“As a responsible government entity, we share the pains Nigerians have gone through as a result of the subsequent discovery and quarantine of the methanol blended PMS and subsequent hardship it caused to all of us.

“What we did, Mr. Chairman, as a shareholder in NNPC, we partner with them to ensure that the quarantine process is taking place and then, as the supply of the last resort, we give back and ensure that there is continuous flow of petroleum products across the country.

“We understand the hardship and inconveniences that resulted from the issue as mentioned earlier, Duke Oil had already taken neccesary steps by creating additional layers. That’s our submission”.

Chairman of the committee, Abdullahi Gaiya said the company was invited to give a summary not the history of the company.

However, a member of the committee, Olajide Adedeji Stanley took exception to the claim by the company that the product imported by the company meets specification.

Olajide said: “He made a comment now and he said that the cargo conform to the quality and the standard that is required in Nigeria. I take an objection to that Mr. Chairman.

“We know this is an adulterated product and if you tell us and telling Nigerians that it meets the specification, it does not. Ignorance is not an excuse and we are going to do justice to this investigation Mr. Chairman.

“I cannot sit here on behalf of Nigerians and accept that this product meets the specifications of Nigerian. It does not”.

The management of Oando said the PMS supplied by it was accepted for discharge by the NNPC with whom they had a valid contract, adding that the inspection protocols made available to it did not include test for methanol.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Effanga Effanga, said the 90,000 metric ton supplied by the company was taken into tanks by the NNPC and was not in a position to say whether it has been utilized or not.