By Danzumi Ishaku
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has approved two sites for the installation of Liquefied Petrol and Gas (LPG) plants in Jalingo the Taraba Capital.
Mr Jeremiah Mashat, Operational Controller DPR, Jalingo Field Office, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday during a routine compliance surveillance operation.
Mashat said that the office had forwarded the approval to its North East Zonal Office in Maiduguri for the issuance of operational license to the operators.
He said that the two additional plants would complement the only existing Taraba Gas plant which, he said, was insufficient to cope with growing demand for cooking gas in the state.
The controller said that the installation of the two additional plants would further enhance competition in the market and dismantle monopoly for users of cooking gas in the state.
He also assured that the non licensed cooking gas retailers would soon quit, adding that non licensed operators would be appropriately sanctioned by the DPR.
Mashat revealed to our reporter that the department had invited all gas distribution stakeholders in the state to a meeting with a view to sensitizing them on the need to operate the business in line with global best practices.
The DPR Boss said, DPR would ensure strict adherence to rules and regulations of the petroleum downstream in order to make sure that the commodity was safe for users.
Mashat further said the department has directed all financial institutions and individuals who were having industrial storage to get their permit from DPR.
Daybreak report that the agency would inspect the position of such industrial plants to ascertain environmental safety.
