DPR seals 15 filling stations, 2 gas plants in Osun


The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), on Thursday, sealed 15 filling stations and two gas plants in Osun state, for non compliance to global best practices. 


The DPR’s Operations Controller, Osogbo, Mr Ademola Makinde, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the departments routine surveillance on filling and gas plants in the state.


He said the surveillance was part of the core mandate of DPR to ensure that the masses were not shortchanged by the petroleum marketers.  

According to him, the exercise aimed at checking product hoarding diversion and selling regulated products above the approved pump prices.


He stated that 29 filling stations were visited during the surveillance, disclosing that the sealed filling and gas stations were under-dispensing and operating without a valid licence. 

He said, “We visited 29 filling stations, 15 were sealed for under dispensing, operating without a valid licence and seven were not in use. 


“Additionally, two gas plants were sealed for offences varying from operating without a valid license, installation and upgrade and non-compliance to safety standards.


“And one good thing about DPR rules is that there are penalties if you flout them. If you are under dispensing to a marginal level, we may require you to go and reset your pump and which we will inspect for possible reopening. 


“But, if there are critical infractions, penalties ranges from N100,000 to N1 million, and N1 million if by chance any marketer tampered with the DPR official seal”, he said. 


“One of the mandate of DPR is to sustain marketers to grow their businesses, but that can only be done if they cooperate, do not cut corners and sidetrack DPR.”


The DPR controller called on the masses to always report any form of sharp practices by petroleum marketers to the department for appropriate action. 


“If anybody report any form of sharp practices to us, we will mobilise our official to such filling station and we will take appropriate action. 


He stated that the ongoing surveillance exercise and the tempo would be sustained to ensure that petroleum operations and all facilities were kept in check, in the interest of the general public.

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