Administrative Action Awaits LPRC

The Management of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation-LPRC, will face the wrath of the Plenary of the House of Representatives for allegedly failing to address the recent petroleum situation in the country.
In a briefing from the House’s Specialized Committee yesterday, Rep. Johnson Gwegolo of Nimba County who spoke on behalf of the Committee, blamed the petroleum shortage on Provisional Lifting and LPRC’s failure to have an Inventory Control Measures to allow dealers verify the quantities of their products in the Storage Tanks.
He said in the absence of the Provisional Lifting, LPRC could not verify the quantity of petroleum products that were stored in their tanks, thus denying dealers of actually knowing the total quantity of their products stored in the tanks. Rep. Gwegolo further blamed the abuse of the Provisional Lifting, which largely contributed to the recent shortage.
He called for an Institutional Automatic Tank Gauging-ATI, a process which will afford the LPRC and dealers identify the actual amount of their products stored in those tanks. Rep. Gwegolo also mentioned that if this process is done, it will alleviate the issue of provisional lifting and brings proper checking and accountability into the system.
Other issues discussed yesterday was a communication from Rep. Vincent S.T. Willie II of District #4 Grand Bassa County seeking the approval of Plenary to amend certain portions of section 20-A of the Property Law , Title 29, Liberian Code of Law Revised and was taken seized of by the House Committees on Judiciary and Local Government.
On the other hand, Bong County Electoral District #5 Rep. Edward W. Karfiah had proffered the regulation of two Complimentary Bills, the Liberian Insurance Section Title, “Insurance Act of 2020”, and an Act to establish the Liberia National Insurance Commission.
Rep. Clarence Massaquoi of Lofa County motioned that the matters sent to the Committees be sent to the relevant Committees of Banking and Currency as the lead Committee, while, Judiciary and Transport serve as members.
Meanwhile, Representative Gwegolo has informed Plenary of enough petroleum products in the country, but said, the Committee and the dealers agreed of having more products on hand to avoid shortages. “Some of the issues addressed were for the dealers to have more products available.
“We agreed that every three months, dealers will have more products in store to avoid shortages,” he stated. Representative Gwegolo further said that the dock area of the Port has finally being dredged, adding that bigger vessels can now dock for business purposes.
Concluding, Rep. Gwegolo recommended on behalf of the Committee for an Administrative Action to be taken against the Management of the Liberia Petroleum and Refinery Corporation for failing to address the petroleum situation.
After the Committee’s report, Speaker Bhofal Chambers further ordered the Committee to conclude its findings from yesterday to Tuesday to allow Plenary to act.