The Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has made real its threat of shutting down the Dangote Refinery as the association began the implementation of the directive on Sunday.
PENGASSAN had directed its Branch Chairmen, especially the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), to ensure that gas supply to the Refinery is cut off effective immediately.
PENGASSAN had expressed sadness over the unjust termination of over 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service it said have been integral to the operations of the Dangote refinery.
The association explained that instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, the Management of the Dangote refinery has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom lack valid immigration documentation.
It therefore called on the Management of the refinery to recall all the terminated Nigerian workers, failure of which it warned would result in industrial action.
In a message to newsmen on Sunday, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC), Joy Ogaji, confirmed a notice from the gas supplies to cut supply to the 23 thermal power plants in the country, raising alarm of imminent nationwide black.
“Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN.
“The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in the post.
She warned that the development could plunge the country into darkness, as hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid.
“Please all be notified of the imminent darkness, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.
The action was contrary to a statement issued yesterday that the PENGASSAN has no legal backing to cut off gas supply to its refinery.
While describing the directive as lawless, the Management of the refinery said: “There is also no law in our statute books that would support or enable the PENGASSAN branches having to “cut off” gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery.
When contacted at press time, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, was indisposed to speak on the matter, but promised to return the call.
