By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has debunked the news making the rounds that it has issued directives to halt gas supply to electricity generating companies (GenCos).
Reports had claimed that the authority stopped producers from supplying gas to GenCos due to a N2 trillion debt owed by the federal government to the firms.
The NMDPRA, in a statement on Wednesday, said the reports are “false” and “completely unfounded”.
“The attention of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has been drawn to a news publication with a spurious claim that the Authority has directed that Gas Supply to power generating companies (GENCOs) be halted and instructed wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply of gas to companies due to failure in payment obligations,” the statement reads.
“The NMDPRA wishes to state categorically that this report is false and completely unfounded.
“It has absolutely no bearing on the information shared at a recent stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos between the Authority, the OPTS, IPPG and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.”
The NMDPRA said the purpose of the engagement was to educate stakeholders on the requirements, opportunities, and benefits associated with the implementation of the wholesale supply licence as provided by Sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The commission said effort is being made to ensure that the supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end users is seamless and unabated during the festive season and in the coming year.
