By Ifeyinwa Obi

Intels Logistics Limited, an oil and gas logistics provider, have said they do not have any link with the directive from the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) asking competitors to discharge or handle all their oil and gas cargoes at Intels’ facilities at Onne, Warri and Calabar ports.

The company also said they  have nothing to do with the recent directive to LADOL Limited to relocate its Egina FPSO fabrication and Integrations project from Lagos, to Bayelsa State.

General Manager of the company, Mr Mike Epelle, said that the allegation that the organization was responsible for the government decisions was not true.

Epelle also denied allegations that Intels was doing everything to stifle competition or achieve monopoly in the oil and gas industry in Rivers and other states.

Besides, he argued that Intels was not the only company that was involved in oil and gas logistics business in Onne Port, explaining that there were other operators, including 190 companies doing different businesses in the area.

Noting that it pioneered oil and gas services at a time when no company was ready to invest in the empty spaces and waters in Onne, Epelle said that all the same the company has never stopped any company from doing business in the area.

According to him, various business approaches adopted by Intels in the past 30 years were what led to the development of the area.

On the legal tussle in respect of operations in the oil and gas zone, Epelle said that the court is being deceived on the matter.

He disclosed that Intels enjoys exclusive right to operate oil and gas in Onne Port.

He also said that a Federal High court had given judgement on the matter, adding that so far two court orders have been issued by different court on the issue.

He lamented that such discrepancy lead to chaos in a business environment.

“The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in July, 2014 passed a judgement the both the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) have powers to designate port into several categories.

“A Federal High Court, Port Harcourt had earlier given a judgment in 2014 asking all oil and gas cargoes be handled in designated terminals.”

“Since when the judgements were given, nobody appealed against it and I wonder another court giving that FHC has only one jurisdiction.”

He however queried why the reports were carried saying any terminal operators who wished to carry out oil and gas activities should come to the oil and gas designated terminals.

“Less than forty percent of the Onne free trade zone (OFTZ) was been utilized, there are still a lot of areas to be accessed, so they can come there through NPA and start investing like we have done.”

Eppele also said oil and gas  terminals pay higher tariff to the federal government than terminals that deal in conventional cargoes.

“We pay more than other terminal operators that handle conventional cargoes so how would you pay for lesser tariff for dealing in conventional cargoes and do jobs for Oil and gas terminals,” he asked.