Bad fuel probe: Imported PMS met NNPC product specification — Brittania-U writes Reps
…Seeks proof of test results conducted by international cargo inspector
By Ayobami Olasehinde
Brittiania-U Nigeria Limited has submitted a letter of clarification to the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) imported by the company into Nigeria met the product specification of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
This was contained in a letter titled “The Position of Brittiania-U Nigeria Limited (BUNL) Regarding The Alleged Importation Of Quatities of Off-Spec Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) Through Our Mother Vessel MT. Torm Hilde” written to the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum -Dowmstream – signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brittiania-U Nigeria Limited, Mrs Uju Ifejika.
Recall that the company had been accused of importing methanol-blended fuel causing fuel scarcity and long queues across the country.
The Committee on Petroleum Downstream had earlier promised to launch an investigation into the off-spec incident.
According to the company, “The alleged Importation of off-Spec Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Brittiania-U is not only incorrect, but was also without supporting evidence in proof thereof.
“The PMS imported by us, was in full compliance with the product specifications as contained in Appendix 1 of the NNPC/DSDP contracted terms. Please see Annexure A hereto attached.”
While explaining the process the company adopted supplying PMS, it said, “Firstly, for any company to import premium motor spirit under the Direct Sale, Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract, crude oil allocation must be made available to such company, who will lift such crude oil and in exchange, bring back to NNPC/COMD premium motor spirit as a swap.
“In this regard, Brittiania-U was given the crude oil lifting binding the DSDP contract in December 2021 and in return, to import/deliver 90,000 metric tons of premium motor spirit to NNPC/COMD, under the previous and current DSDP contract, none of the PMS supplies made by Brittiania-U in the past two and half years, was declared of off-spec.
“Based on the NNPC/COMD product specifications in respect of the said December 2021 allocation, our supplier sent to us all the loadport documents, including product quality test certificates before and after loading, see Annex B/B and the Bill of Lading (Annex “B1”) attached hereto, which we forwarded to NNPC/COMD before the vessel arrival. It is important to note here the NNPC was in copy of all the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) noticed from the master of mother vessel – MT TORM HILDE.
“At no time in these stages did the NNPC/COMD raise the issue about the product being off Spec or the presence of METHANOL, which incidentally was never part of the product specification given to us by NNPC/COMD.
“Our mother vessel (MT TORM HILDE) on arrival at offshore Lagos on January 3, 2022 tendered Notice of Vessel Readiness (NOR), which was immediately conveyed to NNPC/COMD – Annexure C1 Attached.
“With the NOR duly tendered, the independent cargo inspector appointed by the parties, namely GMO inspector for NNPC/COMD and Saybolt for BUNL jointly carried BUNL. The jointly Quality Analysis Report issued by joint inspectors – GMO and Saybolt, dated 3rd January 2022 is attached hereto and marked as “Annex D” with the joint cargo inspection report specification, hence the product specification met NNPC/COMD specification, hence the product was cleared by NNPC/COMD to discharge the cargo from the mother vessel -MT TORM HILDE.”
“However, we are aware from NNPC management’s press interview that the PMS cargoes imported by certain stated suppliers including Brittiania-U, allegedly had a higher than usual quatity of methanol content which negatively affected some end users and this is unfortunate.
“Based on the NNPC assertions, we have reached out to our supplier, who categorically stated that the PMS product they supplied to BUNL/NNPC was according to the NNPC product specifications (as per Annexure ‘A’ above).”
While assuring the committee “that BUNL’s management’s position and that of NNPC/COMD or any person or group who alleged that Brittiania-U brought in the off spec PMS product, with high methanol content, should show concrete proof through test results conducted by an international cargo inspection company, which clearly support such allegations, without that, it becomes a deliberate falsehood against an innocent company, which must not be allowed to continue.”
