Reps Probe Refineries Turn Around Maintenance Cost

House of Representatives has set machinery in motion to investigate the huge investments into the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of major refineries to determine why the exercise did not produce desired results, leading to plan to sell them.

The chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said this while addressing journalists during a meeting of the panel at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja yesterday.

Ugochinyere announced the setting up of technical sub-committees to among others probe the allegations of Dangote Refinery planned take-over of petroleum products transportation/retailing, OVH acquisition and complaints from NNPC Retail Staff/House ordered re-investigation.

The technical sub-committees are to also look into complaints on lack of feed stock by modular refinery/ strengthening of small/modular refineries, areas of amendment of PIA to strengthen Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA/downstream petroleum sector and floating of inaugural edition of annual downstream petroleum week event.

“The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) in exercise of the powers conferred on him as Chairman, hereby approves the setting up of the following Technical Sub-Committees to aid the larger Committee in the carrying out of its functions. They are as follows:

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“Issue of the incorporation of Artisanal Miners into the petroleum refining value chain. Investigation into the alleged abandonment of Biomas Ethane project.

“Allegation and counter allegation over the continued importation of fuel and protection of local refiners- legislative solutions. Petrol products marketing/transportation/distribution: Complaints by relevant unions over fear of monopoly.

“These Technical Sub-Committees shall work towards fast-Tracking the investigation of pending referrals to the Committee, address crucial matters and developments that have arisen, which threaten sustainability in the downstream sector, with a view to making the downstream sector stronger and more viable,” Ugochinyere said.

The committee also dismissed some petitions demanding the sack of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.

The chairman, Ugochinyere said the committee after considering laudable results of the NMDPRA under Ahmed’s leadership, it dismissed petitions calling for his sack.

A group of lawyers recently stormed the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja, with a petition demanding the immediate sack and prosecution of Ahmed.

The lawyers led by Samuel Ihensekhien had leveled grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office and conflict of interest against NMDPRA boss.

“This flagrant misuse of public resources, at a time when millions of Nigerians suffer from deteriorating public education, infrastructure is both morally reprehensible and criminally indictable,” they said.