By Olamide Francis
The Federal Government is putting in frantic efforts to upgrade the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to the global standard, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has said.
The Director of DPR, Sarki Auwalu, who made this disclosure during a virtual meeting with the members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) on Wednesday, noted that the downstream sector has the capacity to improve revenue from oil and gas.
He said it can be achieved through an increased contribution to Gross Domestic Product and create massive employment.
While stressing that the sector has been bedeviled by challenges, Auwalu revealed that the industry would leverage technology in its ongoing automation process to make the sector perform better.
He said that the agency is currently deploying appropriate technology to enhance value for operators and investors alike in the downstream sector.
Sarki also noted that DPR has concluded plans to launch the Downstream Remote Monitoring Systems (DRMS) an inventory and regulatory tool designed to track product levels across retail outlets and depots using the shortcode, *7117#.
The development, according to him, will create value for the sector by providing access to data for efficient management of their operations.
Sarki assured that DPR as partners in progress will continue to engage with MOMAN to ensure seamless communication and feedback on our regulatory activities.
He said that DPR has developed a framework around quality, quantity, integrity and safety (QQIS) for petroleum products in response to the current situation of price freedom in the downstream sector.
He lauded the support of MOMAN for the gas expansion program of government and advised the association to ensure their members’ compliance with the gas add-on directives for their stations as they are the energy bridge of the nation.
