NNPC pledges continuous support for local companies

…Lauds MRS on localisation of oil production

Michael Ajayi

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commended MRS Oil Nigeria Plc for localising oil production, stating that it will help to increase employment in the Nigeria.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr Maikanti Baru, said this during a plant tour of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, an indigenous oil company in Tin Can Island, Lagos.

“It is good to see MRS localising production to ensure it provides employment to the people, improves the economy and produces quality products at a much lower price”, he said.

Baru congratulated the management of the company for venturing into manufacturing alongside their core area of oil trading.

Baru in a statement released by the corporation on Sunday, however, assured that NNPC would continue to support local companies, within the entire hydrocarbon value-chain, for the growth of the nation’s economy.

He said NNPC was ready to encourage MRS in whatever way it could and as a commercial customer, adding that MRS would be given priority in terms of gas supply in order to keep it growing and ultimately would grow the economy.

Furthermore, the GMD said he was particularly impressed with the way the company packaged lubricants, including home care products and insecticides, noting that such products were always in demand.

“There are vast opportunities for partnership with NNPC Retail which is also going into lubricants manufacturing, especially in terms of blending and packaging of their products.

“So in terms of collaboration, it is a win-win situation for both of us.”

He described the newly constructed MRS Plant, which boasted state-of-the-art equipment, as one that could compete favourably with any plant of its type anywhere in the world in all ramifications.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, thanked the GMD for the visit, which he said had energised the company in its quest to remain a key player in the nation’s downstream and manufacturing sectors.

He said with NNPC’s assurance of constant gas supply to the plant, MRS was upbeat about meeting its objectives by providing Nigerians quality products at highly competitive prices.

Dantata described the GMD as the father of the industry who had been very supportive of the growth of indigenous companies.

“It is always good for them to come and see for themselves. You can see that by visiting personally, he has already intervened with a strong commitment to supply us with gas so as to keep us going, and for us to help grow the economy.

“We are very grateful for that,” he said.