Laboratory Analysis Of Product Of Motor Tanker Praisel Is High Pure Fuel Oil Not Stolen Crude---NN
Nigerian Navy, NN, on Sunday, confirmed that the laboratory analysis of product of motor Tanker Praisel (MT PRAISEL), intercepted and seized by the private security organization, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL) and an element of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), was pure fuel oil and not stolen crude as alleged by its captors.
Nigerian Navy, NN, on Sunday, confirmed that the laboratory analysis of product of motor Tanker Praisel (MT PRAISEL), intercepted and seized by the private security organization, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL) and an element of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), was pure fuel oil and not stolen crude as alleged by its captors.
The Director of Information, NN, Commodore AO Ayo Vaughan, in a statement on Sunday, said with the results of the laboratory analysis of the product on-board MT PRAISEL by all agencies including NMDPRA, the result indicated that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.
Vaughan explained that the result came out on Saturday, 5 August, 2023, adding that the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT PRAISEL were pure fuel oil and not stolen crude.
According to him, the result proved the allegations by Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL) and an element of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), that the product was stolen crude was totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous.
He disclosed that the alleged intelligence which was claimed by Tantita Security Service Limited, TSSL, to have received and deployed in respect of the vessel and its product was equally wrong.
Vaughan explained that the singular incident brings to the fore the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct displayed, by Tantita with its attendant negative consequences on the supplier and buyer of the product, and the vessel hired to convey it including other parties involved in the legitimate business.
He maintained that the Nigerian Navy reiterated her strong stance to support every single effort to halt economic saboteurs and to fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria’s maritime environment (NME).
He said that could be done by providing such efforts within the ambit of the law and with the best professional conducts.
NN urged all the stakeholders to be mindful of unprofessional conducts adding that proper precaution must be adhered to avoid unnecessary impediment to legitimate commercial activities and businesses in the maritime environment.
According to him, Maritime security issues entails more than spontaneous actions from insufficient and unverified information stating that the resultant wrong responses have direct impact on the nation’s economy; hence it must be handled dispassionately and professionally.
Vaughan stressed that in line with Mr President’s directive, the Navy under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, would ensure transparent and robust inter-Service and inter-agency cooperation and synergy in all her operations.
He urged all stakeholders and players within the NME, to adopt the same posture in the overall interest of the nation.
The full statement:
It would be recalled that Naval Headquarters issued a Press Release on 4 August 2023 to clarify an allegation in respect of Motor Tanker (MT) PRAISEL which was reported to be conveying stolen crude oil with naval escorts onboard.
The vessel was reported to have been arrested by a private security outfit, Tantita Security Service Limited (TSSL) and an element of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS).
The clarification of the report became necessary therefore to put the record straight and avoid the misrepresentation of facts particularly the consignment/cargo of the vessel as at the time of interception by TSSL.
As mentioned, MT PRAISEL was duly approved by Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to load 1,114,721 Litres of High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) from Greenmac Energy Storage/Tarus Jetty Koko from 26 July – 8 August 2023.
This has repeatedly been substantiated by NMDPRA. However, due to the allegation and suspicion of the vessel’s product to be stolen crude oil, samples of the product were collected on Thursday and Friday 3 & 4 August 2023 by relevant agencies in line with laid procedures for laboratory analysis and verification of the claim.
As of Saturday 5 August 2023, the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT PRAISEL by all agencies including NMDPRA indicate that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.
This result therefore proves that the allegation and suspicion was totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous.
The intelligence which was said to have been received in respect of the vessel and its product is equally wrong.
This singular incident brings to the fore the high-handedness and unprofessional conduct displayed, with its attendant negative consequences for the supplier and buyer of the product, the vessel hired to convey it and other parties involved in the legitimate business.
Accordingly, the Nigerian Navy reiterates her strong stance to support every single effort to halt economic saboteurs and to fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria’s maritime environment (NME) provided such effort is done within the ambit of the law and with the best professional conduct.
Proper precaution therefore must be adhered to by all stakeholders to avoid unnecessary impediment to legitimate commercial activities and businesses in the maritime environment.
Maritime security issues entails more than spontaneous actions from insufficient and unverified information because the resultant wrong responses have direct impact on the nation’s economy hence it must be handled dispassionately and professionally.
In line with Mr President’s directive, the Navy under the able leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla will ensure transparent and robust inter-Service and inter-agency cooperation and synergy in all her operations.
All stakeholders and players within the NME are thus advised to adopt the same posture in the overall interest of the nation.
Signed
AO AYO-VAUGHAN
Commodore
Director of Information
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