The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members nationwide to inspect their fuel dispensing meters following a warning from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over alleged under-dispensing at filling stations.
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He said the association held an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the NMDPRA raised concerns about the accuracy of fuel dispensers at retail outlets.
According to him, the meeting, which lasted until about 10pm, resulted in a directive for members to immediately examine their dispensing equipment.
“PETROAN circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible,” Gillis-Harry said.
He explained that dispensing equipment could become faulty after prolonged use, potentially resulting in customers receiving either less fuel or more fuel than the quantity paid for
Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, recounting an experience in which a faulty meter at his own retail outlet dispensed more fuel than customers had paid for, resulting in financial losses for his business.
Gillis Harry assured motorists that PETROAN members would continue to ensure that customers receive the exact quantity of fuel they purchase.
“But I can tell you that PETROAN members will, at all times, insist on making sure that they sell their products one litre for one litre,” he said.
He advised motorists to pay close attention to the quantity displayed on fuel dispensers while purchasing petrol and to request receipts for their transactions.
The PETROAN president also urged consumers to know their vehicles’ fuel tank capacities and compare them with the quantities displayed on dispensing meters.
“Oftentimes, we educate our staff to call the attention of the patron to check the meter while it is being dispensed. And also to get the customer to check after the product has been dispensed,” he said.
Gillis-Harry said PETROAN works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the NMDPRA to ensure that fuel dispensing equipment remains functional and accurate.
“PETROAN consistently works with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, and also the NMDPRA. These are the two regulatory authorities that ensure that our meters are functional. And they are up to date and accurate,” he said.
The development follows an NMDPRA warning to filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, with the regulator threatening sanctions, including the revocation of operating licences, for outlets found short-changing consumers.
Gillis Harry said PETROAN had taken the warning seriously and immediately commenced discussions with its members to detect and address any faulty equipment.
“But we took what the NMDPRA called our attention to yesterday very seriously. And we already started working on that,” he said.
