-Felix Douglas
The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) had a webinar event with the theme: The Future of Petroleum Product Quality in Nigeria to discuss on quality of petroleum products in the country. Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) spoke on Specification and Standardization of Petroleum Products, Challenges and Prospects.
Okeke was represented by Pankes Clement Paul who explained the activities of SON that the agency is mandated to set and enforce standard on commodities.
As Nigeria’s apex standard agency, SON plays a crucial role in coordinating and overseeing activities related to standardization, quality assurance, testing and metrology.
Petroleum products play a vital role in powering industries, transportation and domestic activities.
However, ensuring that these products meet acceptable quality standards remain a significant challenge and SON is at the forefront of establishing and enforcing industrial standards to guarantee the quality safety and environmental compliance of petroleum products in Nigeria.
Pankes added that specification and standardization are not just regulating formalities. “In fact, they are essential to protect consumers because of sub-standard products damage engine, increased fuel consumption and high maintenance costs.” Aside protecting the consumers, SON enhances economic growth because quality products improve efficiency in industry and transportation sector, the environments are not left behind.
Standards ensure environmental sustainability because poor quality increases emissions and pollution to environment. For businessmen, standards promote fare trade practices because standardisation helps to curb adulteration and ensures a level playing ground field for businesses, Pankes stated.
As a national standardization body, Pankes noted that SON is responsible for developing Nigeria that for various petroleum products and aligns its standardization with global benchmarks such as the ISO, ASTM, RSO member.
SON also carries out testing services and certification to verify compliance with quality parameters that are expected of a petroleum product. It does market surveillance by collaborating with other relevant agencies to be sure that whatever comes into retail or goes out, consumers meet requirements of the standard.
SON has good working relationship and MOU with NMDPRA, who is the core regulators of the downstream sector. This is to ensure smooth running of the process while businessmen and consumers will have value for their money.
Challenges
Pankes observed that despite efforts of SON, several challenges still persist. There is fuel adulteration. The regulatory agency has endeavoured to reduce influx of importation of substandard low quality petroleum product. The country’s border is porous.
Although there are issues, MoU between SON and Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) will strengthen some policy gaps that both parties have identified.
To overcome some of these challenges and improve petroleum product standardization, strategic measures have been adopted. These include: strengthening regulations and compliance mechanism, good working relationship with the security agencies.
SON is also investing in testing and research tool; there is a lab that is dedicated to petroleum products and possibility of deploying a mobile testing unit to enhance poor quality monitoring. It is leveraging on technology for quality control, so that from the tank farm to the retailers, it will be able to monitor movement with a tracking system. This will ensure that it is not adulterated by unscrupulous people who might comprise the system. The agency also has strong partnership with industry players, like MEMAN, a key stakeholder.
Pankes urged MEMAN members to participate in the development of the standard. SON is working with Nigeria Orientation Agency (NOA). This will encourage the public to also inform SON should there be substandard product and encourage demand for quality products.
Standardization of products is not just regulating necessity. “It is an economic and environmental imperative.” As Nigeria seeks to optimize its energy sector, the role of SON in enforcing specification and quality assurance cannot be overemphasized.
“Together, all of us with robust policies, technological innovation and industry wide cooperation, we can build the petroleum sector that is safe, efficient and globally competitive.”
Comment here