The Department of Petroleum Resources has inaugurated a multimillion-naira laboratory in Calabar to ensure effective distribution of quality petroleum products in Cross River.
The Operations Controller of the DPR Field Office in Calabar, Mr Philip Awolu, unveiled the laboratory at the agency’s office in Calabar.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the laboratory has been equipped to standard for direct analysis of petroleum products.
Awolu, who was represented by Mr Ndaliman Mohammed, said that the unveiling was a landmark achievement for the Calabar office, adding that it showed the importance the DPR management placed on the ability of the Calabar field office.
He said that Calabar, with its numerous tank farms at the depot, had become a growing field of activities as far as oil and gas was concerned.
He said, “One of the major roles of the DPR is quality assurance of petroleum products and this can be emphasised with this laboratory to enhance that quality.
“For the oil and gas industry, we are responsible for checking products so that we can protect the consumer and the environment because some products can cause pollution and damage to equipment and vehicles.”
“We must commend the management of the DPR for setting up the laboratory. The laboratory will go a long way in helping us to check adulterated products.”
“We have had cases of kerosene explosion in the past. Hopefully, with this laboratory, we are going to check the activities of adulteration in the state,” he also said.
According to Awolu, the laboratory will give them a first-hand result of the analysis of products that are harmful for consumption.
He also commended the DPR’s zonal office in Port Harcourt and some stakeholders at the Calabar depot who had always allowed them to use their facilities for product analysis.
He added that with the new Calabar laboratory, the office is now ready for any analysis in the course of any discovery of suspected products within the state.
