DPR SEALS 10 FILLING STATIONS IN OWERRI

 
A monitoring team of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed ten filling stations in Owerri for engaging in sharp practices.

The offences include under dispensing of premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol, operating without valid license and poor safety measures to contain fire outbreak.

Addressing journalists, the Zonal Controller DPR Owerri Zonal Office, Mr. Peter Ejeh, said the department would no longer tolerate a situation where petroleum marketers shortchange Nigerians in their bid to maximize profit.

Mr. Ejeh described as worrisome a situation where some dealers sell premium motor spirit at a reduced cost of one hundred and forty three naira a litre only to manipulate their pumps to dispense less.

“Here we have measured all the pumps they are using and every of the pumps has one issue or the other.

“The first one we did has gross under dispensing, you can’t even see the product rising through the tube, they are short of the standard we accept, that is why we are sealing the station,” Mr. Ejeh said.

Mr. Ejeh said a mobile kit had been introduced by DPR to identify adulterated petroleum products.

The Controller noted that the monitoring would be carried out periodically to ensure compliance to operational standard and urged residents not to hesitate in alerting DPR on any suspected sharp practice from petroleum dealers.

The department had in the past carried out similar operation in Imo State during which a number of filling stations were sealed.       

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU