Oil marketers across Nigeria have come out to say that poor patronage and decreasing demand are the main reasons for the scarcity of kerosene in the country.
Recall that recent reports have highlighted the constant consumer complaints from Nigerians over the overwhelming scarcity of kerosene, amid super-high prices.
According to the National President of Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, the scarcity of the product is purely down to very low patronage across the country, and it further proves that kerosene consumption patterns have changed over the years.
Breaking down the 2 types of kerosene there is, Billy revealed that Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK) is mainly used as aviation fuel while Household Kerosene (HHK) is meant only for home use. He then confirmed that the same way DPK and HHK took over from firewood is the same way gas kicked both types of kerosene off the market.
Dr Gillis-Harry disclosed that they used to load up their stations with a reasonable supply of kerosene allocation, but customers rarely showed up for it, thereby affecting sales negatively.
“HHK is purely household kerosene, which is strictly for home use, while DPK could be used domestically and also for aviation, but the octane rating is very high and could be volatile too.
We normally receive kerosene allocation once in a while, load it at the stations, while consumers come to buy the product, but it is not rampant again as it used to be way back.
The one we are getting from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) is the HHK, the household kerosene, which is strictly and clearly for home use,” he said.
Confirming that petroleum retailers used to go as far as buying a kerosene allocation of 45,000 litres, he revealed that it always took a very long time for the product to be fully sold out.
“If you buy an allocation of 45,000 litres and load at the station, it will take months before it is sold out.
So, where are you going to get the money to start recycling? Because this is our business, the profit margin is very low. And what we depend on is recycling and consistent business,” he added.
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Maigandi Garima, National President, also agrees with the fact that there is a reduced demand for kerosene in the market.
According to him, due to the popularity of the cooking gas, the majority of kerosene users no longer feel the need to remain stuck in the past by patronising a product the country seems to have moved away from.
“Most people now rely on the green energy, called LPG,” Maigandi simply said.
