Follow Us on Google
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Bureau Veritas and Ace Energy and Power Solutions Limited to strengthen product testing, quality assurance and laboratory development in the country.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the Authority’s office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking during the signing, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, who represented the Authority Chief Executive, Mallam Umar, said the collaboration would strengthen NMDPRA’s regulatory oversight through capacity building, standardisation of procedures, staff training and deployment of world-class equipment.
He said the partnership is a major step towards the Authority’s drive for international accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025-2027 and its continuous development of laboratory network across the country.
According to Lamorde, NMDPRA currently operates nine laboratories strategically located nationwide, with those in coastal areas including Port Harcourt, Lagos, Calabar and Warri forming the first phase of its modernisation programme.
He said the second phase would focus on hinterland laboratories in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, among others.
Lamorde disclosed that the Authority is also digitalising its laboratory operations to ensure integrated surveillance, product certification and compliance monitoring across all facilities.
He said NMDPRA is at the feasibility stage of developing a National Reference Laboratory to serve as an apex centre of excellence for confirmatory testing, training and research.
“What we did today is move from field surveillance to laboratory-based evidence for regulatory action.”
He noted that the Port Harcourt laboratory has been upgraded with equipment such as sulphur analyser capable of measuring as low as 10 parts per billion, well below the 50ppm standard prescribed by the NIS 2025 and the Petroleum Industry Act.
Lamorde added that the laboratories are equipped to test key parameters for PMS, AGO and DPK including Research Octane Number, flash point and viscosity, and to track products from import or refinery through storage, transportation to retail outlets via a Laboratory Management System.
Meanwhile, NMDPRA officials during their field surveillance, sealed two filling stations in Port Harcourt for different offences.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Bureau Veritas, Daniel Wilbert, described the partnership as an honour, saying the company would bring its global expertise in testing, inspection and certification to ensure world-class standards in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream sector.
He commended NMDPRA for its commitment to quality and safety.
