Yemisi Izuora
Nipco plc, has made a significant investment in the hydrocarbon industry by expanding its storage capacity to boost the company’s efforts at meeting the needs of stakeholders at all times.
Managing Director ,Nipco plc ,Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy who disclosed this while reviewing the company’s operation in 2015 said the new investment led to the construction of additional tanks for storage of white products .
According to him, the new storage facility can store 34 million litres of petroleum products, a feat that would drive the company to further consolidate the company’s leadership role in the downstream.
The MD affirmed that going into construction of new projects at this time is a vindication of the company’s belief in the resilience of the Nigerian economy stressing “even though this is a very challenging period in the nation’s history, we are still upbeat of better days ahead ”
He noted that with the additional storage, Nipco .s efforts to store petroleum products has now increased to 84 million from the erstwhile 50 million litres thereby enhancing her capacity to take deliveries of bigger vessels laden with huge products with no stress on where to discharge .
The MD informed that the project which was built to international standard can store all grades of white products and has been effectively linked with the Apapa jetty reception point as well as the ten point loading gantry in the terminal.
Venkataraman noted that though the operating environment has been very tough, concerted efforts will be made to contain the effects on the company with the broad policy outlines of the Board of Directors and active support of the workforce as well as plethora of stakeholders.
According to him , Nipco’s sales and marketing strategies together with its competitive pricing policy have facilitated the considerable market share of the company in all its lines of business adding that to maintain the trend , “ we would continue relentlessly to maintain new initiatives to maximise this enviable position n the industry “ .
He said that the company has stepped up its interventions in deepening the use of gas as domestic cooking fuel by distributing free gas cylinders and burners residents of its host community –Apapa for the second year running.
Venkataraman noted that Nipco numerous skids across the country has continued to serve as reliable source of getting gas both for domestic and industrial users with premium placed on accurate filling .
Also in the realm of corporate social responsibility , the MD also informed that the determination to make a positive impact in the communities we operate and the country at large continues to be the driving force of its CSR initiatives .
He recalled the empathy shown the internally displaced persons in Gashua, Yobe state through material donation and physical presence of the company’s management team in the ancient city in 2015.