FG speaksDespite the denial by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in September, it was impossible to have toxic fuel into circulation in Nigeria, the commitment of the federal government to ban the toxic fuel from entering the country has proved critical, including which DPR, wrong.Deputy Director, Public Affairs in DPR, Dorothy Bassey, had told Daily Sun in a telephone interview that there was no cause for alarm, as all petroleum products are tested before entering the country's coasts. According to her, the product or products that do not exceed the specific tests are sent to the country of origin."But if by error of omission or commission any product (s) that fall short on specific request find their way into the country, the importation of such products will be severely punished, '' he said. But Nigerians are yet to see such sanctions on Swiss importers.But Environment Minister Amina Mohamed, said: "For 20 years, Nigeria has not been able to address the crisis of pollution of the vehicle because of the poor fuels we have been importing. Today, we are taking a giant step - the limitation of the sulfur in fuels from 3,000 parts per million to 50 parts per million ".He said the move would result in greater benefits for air quality in Nigerian cities and allow the country to set the standards of modern vehicles.The WHO says that pollution is especially severe in low and middle income countries.Approved level of sulfur in NigeriaBut contrary to what was stated by Public Eye that Nigeria allows up to 3,000 ppm of sulfur in petrol, Daily Sun investigations proved the opposite.According to a 39-page document obtained exclusively by the Daily Sun, standards for Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Nigeria Industrial Standard NIS 116: 2008 approved by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Governing Council in 2008, pegged the maximum sulfur content in 0.10 ppm, allowed the same standard in Europe.According to the son, the purpose of the revision of the standard is to provide specifications and test methods for manufacturers, importers and users of unleaded gasoline marketed in Nigeria.Swiss companies put in defenseBut traders of Swiss raw materials - Trafigura and Vitol - mixing accused deliberately toxic fuel and download them in Nigeria and other West African countries say African governments are to blame for low standards and lack of investment in refineries and newer vehicles to reduce exhaust gas emissions that cause respiratory and other diseases."What is clear is that the role of improving the quality of fuel in Africa clearly lies with African governments, not with fuel suppliers," The partnership with the Geneva-based African refiners who represents many dealers said in a letter obtained by the Associated Press (AP).Public Eye said traders including Vitol and Trafigura provide Europe with per million sulfur fuel meeting European Union standards of 10 parts, while the creation of what is called "African Quality" fuel that has 2,000 or more ppm sulfur . Nigeria, for example, allows up to 3,000 ppm of sulfur in the gasoline according Public Eye.the position of the United NationsRob de Jong from the Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) told the BBC that there was a lack of awareness on the part of some politicians about the meaning of the sulfur content in fuels.Jong said that the picture is changing, but that there are still many African countries that allow the gas to have a sulfur content of more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm), with a little 'allowing more than 5,000ppm, while the standard European is less than 10 ppm.He argued that for a long time countries rely on colonial-era standards, which have only been revised in recent years.'' Another problem is that in countries where there are refineries, these are not able, for technical reasons, to reduce sulfur levels to acceptable standards in Europe. This means that the standard regulation is kept to the level that the refineries can operate at.Some governments are also worried that the cleanest diesel would be more expensive, thus pushing up the price of transport, '' he said.
But Jong argued that the difference was minimal and fluctuations in the price of oil were much more significant in determining the price of diesel.
Head of UNEP, Erik Solheim, said, "West Africa is sending a strong message that Europe is no longer accepting dirty fuels. They are giving the health of their populations before.
"Air pollution is killing millions of people every year and we need to ensure that all countries urgently introduce cleaner fuels and vehicles to help reduce the shocking statistics," Solheim said in a statement released last Monday.
According to UNEP, a combination of low sulfur content and emissions standards advanced vehicles fuels able to reduce harmful emissions by up to 90 percent, according to UNEP.
To ensure that operators do not throw the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Agency Directors and the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency (NIMASA) against each other in the performance of their institutional responsibilities, both agencies have set up a joint commission to harmonize all areas of overlapping functions.The move will ensure that Nigerians fully exploit the opportunities available in the maritime services of the oil and gas sector.The Joint Committee is also expected to come up with ways to achieve the objective of capital preservation and value added in the country in the marine oil and gas sector.The Committee was opened by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, and the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alhalji Jimoh Bashir.Section 105 of the Nigerian Petroleum Act and content for the gas industry development (2010) states that "NCDMB, in collaboration with NIMASA, has powers to enforce compliance with relevant sections of the coastal law and internal transport (cabotage Act) in relation to matters falling to the Nigerian content development. "The law also provides NOGICD first consideration of Nigerian goods and services, and sets targets of 45 per cent spend on offshore supply vessels of up to 90 percent of spending for the supply of large crude carriers and towing of oil and gas infrastructure .Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary said that the joint committee will ensure that the industry will be able to play against each other agency and get away with non-compliance.He pointed out that Nigerians can only benefit from the opportunities in the sector, whether regulatory agencies like NIMASA NCDMB and effectively perform their statutory functions.Some of the opportunities for Nigerians in the shipping industry include ship construction, maintenance, staffing, support services such as insurance, legal, catering, among others.Speaking further, Wabote listed the committee focus to include the definition of adequate documentation to ascertain the ownership of the vessel and authenticating documentation NIMASA owned vessel. The commission will also examine the effect of temporary import permit on the property marine vessel and develop strategies that encourage collaboration for the promotion of investments in shipbuilding, repairs and maintenance capabilities. Other subjects include the maritime training, Sea- time and certification for Nigerians and the proliferation of expatriate crew on ships operating in Nigeria.Earlier, in his welcome address, Peterside, said that the cooperation between agencies preceded the passage of the Nigerian Content law, borne of the realization that so much could not be reached in both areas without collaboration.DG NIMASA stressed the importance of the maritime and oil and gas for the Nigerian economy, saying that the need for collaboration is to create a common front in order to enforce the local content obligations."The foundation of our collaboration with NCDMB is to close all the gaps and loopholes that can be used to undermine the government's efforts on the part of the operators. We believe that with this inter-agency collaboration will put local capacity in place to achieve desired levels maintenance of value especially in the wake of investment opportunities provided, "he added.The NIMASA DG also indicated areas of interest for the committee to include the elaboration of the modalities of a harmonized standard for the classification of suppliers of marine vessels and other services and articulating the manpower development framework involving NIMASA, NCDMB, PTDF, companies international oil, navigation and Nigeria top academic training institutes companies in particular in the areas of training of seafarers, compulsory opportunities for long-Sea cadets, international certification, and the type of pool skills.He also accused the commission to articulate a strategy for capacity building in terms of Ship Building, repairs and dock services and ship survey and certification, training equipment and infrastructure and articulated strategies for the development of tax incentives and others for Nigerian workers.
As part of efforts to raise research and the study of geosciences, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture has donated modern geophysical equipment, accessories and books to the Department of Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun."In 2014, we donated equipment worth nearly N50 million for the Department of Geology of the institution. The equipment has been in use since then and their guaranteed quality. In addition to the equipment, we are donating geophysical textbooks to ensure 'quality learning ", the managing director, SPDC, and Country Chair, shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said at the commissioning ceremony at the university.Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, thanked SPDC for a longtime media who took the university to greater heights and pledged the commitment of the Department to put the donations to good use to improve development academic and contribution to the nation's economy.The geophysical equipment are suitable for various applications such as geological mapping, environmental studies, groundwater prospecting and mineral exploration and geotechnical investigations.The SPDC JV partnership with Obafemi Awolowo began in 1992 when he was cast as one of the top five universities for the endowment of professorships in Nigeria.There are currently seven such chairs SPDC JV in Nigerian universities and two Centres of Excellence in Geophysics and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin and Marine Engineering at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, respectively.Shell Companies in Nigeria have a long history of scholarship, research internships, sabbaticals, supporting ICT infrastructure and technological development initiatives.In 2015, SPDC JV and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo.) Alone invested the sum of $ 10.1 million for scholarships. A total of 3,532 scholarships were awarded to universities over the past five years.
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon