Yemisi Izuora
Sahara Energy Resources Limited has faulted the suspension order and sanction slammed on three oil marketers on account of irregularities by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
The company in its reaction at the weekend claimed DPR was hasty in dealing with matter as it did not give the company the opportunity to provide available documentary evidence that would have addressed allegations bordering on compliance with approved price for sale of PMS.
A statement by the company’s spokesman Bethel Obioma recalled that “The DPR had in a letter dated December 9, 2015 written to Sahara on the issue and the company promptly replied via a letter also dated December 9, 2015 to clarify its position and make a passionate appeal for an opportunity to back its response with facts”.
Setting the record straight in the statement, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs. Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka said Sahara Energy had a track record of strict compliance with the sector’s guidelines.
Adeyinka said the DPR sent the letter to Sahara without any hearing or earlier inquiry, affirming that she remained hopeful that Sahara’s response will clarify all allegations and concerns of the DPR.
“We take seriously our obligations under the law as a corporate law abiding citizen and we have not acted in breach of the Petroleum Act or any Regulations, Schedules or Orders made thereunder.
We shall welcome an opportunity to respond to any allegations of fact that DPR may have and we are confident that we can demonstrate with documentary records our full compliance with the Act,” she added.
Sahara’s letter to the DPR read in part: “We would like to inform you that contrary to the allegations made in your letter, Sahara Energy Resources Limited discharged MT Argosy carrying 20,426,120 litres of PMS to Sahara Ibafon on the 5th October, 2015 and sold this product between the 7th October and 24th November, 2015 to Forte Oil and A.A. RANO, amongst others, who we all sold to at the price of =N=77.66.
We categorically maintain that we did not at any time sell PMS above the government approved price. As of today, we have only a deadstock of 26,116 litres at Sahara Ibafon which cannot be pumped out.”
She said Sahara has always sold petroleum products at the approved price in its depots and other depots where the company has discharged products.
Adeyinka urged the DPR to review its suspension order, adding that Sahara would welcome the opportunity to respond to any allegations of fact upon which DPR’s decision was based.
She also assured the company’s customers and stakeholders that the issue would be resolved, stressing that Sahara remained committed to working with the DPR to ensure professionalism and sustainable growth in the sector.
She added that Sahara had continuously been called upon to work with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to address shortages and boost the supply of PMS nationwide – a role she said Sahara would be honored to continue playing responsibly and ethically.