The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has said that the entry of Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) into the cooking gas market had broken the monopoly of International Oil Companies (IOCs) through their affiliates in Nigeria.
Mr Nosa Ogieva-Okunbo, the association’s President, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to NIPCO management in Lagos.
Ogieva-Okunbo said major marketers hitherto had almost total control of the LPG business prior to the entry of the company in 2009.
NIPCO is a private company operating in the downstream sector of the oil and gas business in Apapa.
He said that the pattern of the domestic gas business was fast changing with more sourcing avenue for LPG marketers .
The president said that NALPGAM, as an important value chain in the LPG distribution process, appreciated the contribution of NIPCO in the chain and would forever be grateful to the organisation.
According to him, the company’s recent expansion project, which will make it the biggest LPG plant in Nigeria, will definitely have a positive impact on storage and availability of LPG in the domestic market.
Ogieva–Okunbor noted that as a key stakeholder in the business, it was imperative for the company to associate with market leader like NIPCO, to encourage its investment drive and grow LPG sector in Nigeria.
He disclosed the setting up of a human resource development centre by the association to grow technical know how in the industry and offer avenue for exchange of ideas in the interest of the stakeholders .
He promised increased business relationship, on behalf of its members who owned hundreds of bottling plants across the country.
Ogieva–Okunbor said “the partnership of NALPGAM and NIPCO is key to the smooth transition of gas to the end users”.
The Managing Director, NIPCO, Mr Sanjay Teotia, said the ongoing expansion in its LPG plant was geared at improving the gas distribution value chain by providing veritable avenue for storage and dispense to bottling plant owners and other ancillary operators in the LPG market.
He restated the company’s commitment to high safety standards and accurate loadings, a feat that had been NIPCO’s key objectives in its operations since inception .
The managing director promised to cooperate with the association to ensure that its gas prices were affordable and poised to increase avenue for more meaningful business for marketers.
He urged NALPGAM to ensure that bottling plant owners considered the end users in pricing as well as accuracy in quantity dispensed.
He said that quality certificate of each consignment being loaded to the members would be sent to the association for onward passage to its members.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of an award to NIPCO as the 2017 best LPG marketer with its LPG sales head, Mr Harjeet Tuteja, as the best salesman of the year.