The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has disclosed that he will reveal the truth about their operations in the oil and gas sector at the suitable time. Kyari made the promise yesterday while testifying before a Senate ad hoc committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry.
The committee, as being led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, is investigating the oil firm’s activities amidst calls for public scrutiny especially on allegation of government official operating a blending plant in Malta Island.
Kyari insisted that the NNPCL he is leading is not involved in the importation of sub-standard products as alleged; instead he is committed to transparency and integrity.
He lamented that the media were not fair to him, stating that it was targeted at tarnishing the company’s reputation and creating the impression of economic sabotage.
“We are not criminals, we are not thieves,” Kyari said. “We will protect our dignity so we can serve this country,” he said.
Recall that there has been a controversy between regulators in the oil and gas industry and the Dangote refinery.
One of the allegations is that some government officials own a blending plant in Malta.
Malta is an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea.
An oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil with additives to create finished lubricant products.
“To clarify the allegations regarding blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini agric venture.
“Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
“A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared publicly and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security,” Kyari said in a post on his X handle.
Meanwhile, the Senate has revealed it will probe the over the $1.5 billion dollars approved in 2021 for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery with little or no result to show.
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, raised the concern in his response during an interactive session with stakeholders.
Bamidele expressed concern about the dysfunctional state of government-owned refineries in spite of billions of dollars spent on turn-around maintenance.
