Oil marketers have cited low patronage and decreasing demand as the main reasons behind the ongoing scarcity of Household Kerosene.
Consumers have raised concerns about the severe shortage and skyrocketing prices of kerosene.
This disclosed by the National President of Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, according to NAN.
Gillis-Harry linked the scarcity to low patronage, noting that the consumption pattern of kerosene has changed significantly.
He explained that there are two types of kerosene: Dual-Purpose Kerosene and Household Kerosene. DPK is used for various purposes, including as aviation fuel (Aviation Turbine Kerosene or JET A-1) and for cooking and lighting (illuminating kerosene), while HHK is specifically meant for household use only.
Gillis-Harry revealed that both DPK and HHK have largely replaced firewood, while gas has reduced the demand for HHK and DPK, which can also serve as an alternative to aviation fuel.
He said, “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.
“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 advised consumers to consistently purchase from certified fuel stations that have product allocations approved by NNPC Ltd.
Responding to the allegation that the scarcity was due to the mixing of kerosene with aviation fuel, Gillis-Harry stated that he had never encountered such a situation.
He emphasized that NNPC Ltd. has consistently warned against mixing its products for sale to consumers.
In his remark, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Maigandi Garima, acknowledged the low demand for kerosene in the market.
He attributed the scarcity to the growing popularity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas.
He said, “Most people now rely on the green energy, called LPG.’’
Garima confirmed that marketers were loading kerosene from the Port Harcourt and Dangote Refineries but lamented that the product could take over two months to be sold out at fuel stations.
