PETROAN Orders Nationwide Meter Checks after NMDPRA under-dispensing warning

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria has asked its members across the country to inspect their dispensing meters.

This instruction came following a warning by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over alleged under-dispensing of petroleum products.

The association’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief programme’.

According to him, PETROAN convened an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Tuesday after the regulator raised concerns about the accuracy of fuel dispensing at retail outlets.

He said the meeting lasted until about 10 pm, after which members were directed to check their equipment.

“PETRON circulated a message around the country, calling our members to check their meters as quickly as possible,” Gillis-Harry said.

The PETROAN president said some members had already commenced checks, noting that prolonged use could affect the performance of dispensing equipment and lead to either short-measuring or dispensing more fuel than customers paid for.

“Equipment can be faulty over time because of usage,” he said, recalling that he had previously lost money in his own retail business because a faulty meter was dispensing more fuel than customers paid for.

Gillis-Harry also assured motorists that members of the association remained committed to ensuring that the quantity paid for by customers was accurately dispensed.

“But I can tell you that PETRON 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 monitor the quantity shown on the dispensing meter whenever they buy fuel and request receipts after making purchases.

He further urged consumers to familiarise themselves with the fuel capacity of their vehicles and compare it with the quantity indicated by the dispenser.

“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 collaborates with the Weights and Measures Division of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the NMDPRA on the maintenance and accuracy of fuel dispensing meters.

“PETRON 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 NMDPRA had warned filling station operators against under-dispensing petroleum products, stating that outlets found short-changing consumers could face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their operating licences.

Gillis-Harry said the association was treating the regulator’s warning with seriousness and had commenced engagement with its members to identify and correct any faults.

“But we took what the NMDPRA called our attention to yesterday very seriously. And we already started working on that,” he said.