The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been accused of encouraging the business of artisanal refining of crude oil popularly known as kpo fire business to flourish in Rivers State.

Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Rivers State Chapter, at the Port Harcourt Refinery Unit, Emmanuel Inimgba alleged that the NNPC was doing this by hoarding automotive gas oil (AGO) and dual purpose kerosene (DPK).

Inimgba made this allegation yesterday when members of IPMAN, Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA), and IPMAN, NUPENG branch shut down their activities over non supply of Diesel and Kerosene by the NNPC.

The groups, which went on a peaceful protest to the Port Harcourt Refinery and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Depot in Eleme, headquarters of Eleme Local Government Area, lamented that, for the past two years, the Port Harcourt Refinery have not been producing Diesel and Kerosene but imported Petrol.

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Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, PH refinery unit, Emmanuel Inimgba told journalists that sales of kpo fire Diesel is now flourishing in the state and damaging engines of their petroleum tankers.

Inimgba threatened that should this situation persist, IPMAN, petroleum tanker drivers and the independent petroleum products marketers, NUPENG Branch, will henceforth withdraw their services until the management of NNPC makes these products available to independent marketers in the State.

He also accused the NNPC of selling AGO and DPK to private depots who now sell at exorbitant prices not approved by the government to them.

On his part, the Chairman of the Independent Marketers NUPENG Branch, Uche Udunwon said no petroleum tanker driver will load or supply products henceforth until they get good diesel to power their trucks.

He lamented that their truck engines have been damaged as a result of the use of kpo fire diesel.

Efforts to get the response of the NNPC management to these allegations proved abortive as at the time of this report.