Enugu NNPC depot to begin operations in July – PPMC

Mr Haruna Momoh, the Managing Director of Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), said the NNPC depot in Enugu State would commence operations and discharge of petroleum products in July.

Momoh made the disclosure on Tuesday in Enugu at a public enlightenment campaign on pipeline vandalism in the state.

The managing director, represented by the Area Manager of the company, Mr Bassey Anam, said the company had achieved over 80 per cent resuscitation of pipelines to enable the depot to begin full operations.

According to him, the aim of the workshop is to relate with stakeholders in the oil sector with a view to solving pipeline vandalism in the area.

He said “we are putting everything in place to make sure that the depot begins work. We have reached up to 80 per cent success and we are determined to open the depot in two weeks or in a month time.’’

The Enugu Depot Manager, Mr Ojo Adebayo, appealed to governments at all levels and state houses of assembly to rise to the challenge of pipeline vandalism and Right of Way encroachment.

He urged the governments to institute appropriate legislation and penalty against vandals to stamp out the menace in the country.

In his address, Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, commended the PPMC for its efforts toward reviving the NNPC depot in the state.

The governor, who was represented by the states’ Commissioner for Interministerial Affairs, Pastor Dan Anike, said the government would formulate a framework to establish community-based task force to protect pipelines in the state.

He added that when the depot became fully operational, the framework would force local governments and communities to be liable for any pipeline vandalism in their areas.

“In our opinion, the community-based security groups should be backed up with national security group set up for this purpose.

“We want a well-structured but non-detachable security outfit drawn from the Police, Civil Defence and the Army to protect pipelines,’’ Chime said.

Mr Peter Ijeh, the Operations Controller of the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR), appealed to major petroleum product marketers and independent marketers to assist government in the fight against vandalism and to maintain the pipelines.

He said “we should be dedicated in fishing out vandals. The local government, traditional rulers and residents should help us in fighting this menace.’’ (NAN)