Oil marketers have cautioned that the recently launched Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks by Dangote Refinery will not be enough to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products across Nigeria.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television.
Gillis-Harry said while the introduction of CNG trucks is a welcome development, the investments already made by retail oil marketers in the downstream sector should not be sidelined.
“All we are asking for is inclusion, because there is no way Dangote’s trucks will be enough to supply products to the nooks and crannies of the country,” he said.
He explained that PETROAN members are also investing in CNG-powered trucks to complement distribution efforts. “We want to ensure seamless and effective supplies, including areas where Dangote’s trucks cannot reach,” he added.
The PETROAN president stressed that retail outlet owners remain critical players in the value chain. “We are the last men in the industry and should be able to get products from almost all the depots in the country. We want Dangote Refinery to be successful,” he said.
The comments come days after billionaire businessman Femi Otedola urged members of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) to restructure and reinvest in the Port Harcourt refinery in order to remain competitive in the evolving downstream oil sector.
