The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce a price-modulation mechanism for petrol, with a proposed ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of the commodity.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing on petrol prices and subsidy-related issues in Abuja.
Oyedele said the proposed arrangement was aimed at keeping petrol prices stable, stressing that it would not amount to a subsidy or price control.
He said, “We are introducing price modulation. The government is negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to keep the price stable.
“When costs rise above the ceiling, refineries and importers will carry the shortfall and recover it later. This is neither a subsidy nor price control.”
Under the proposed arrangement, refineries and importers would absorb costs above the agreed ceiling and recover the difference at a later period.
The minister also announced plans to introduce forward crude oil sales to domestic refineries as part of measures to protect petrol prices from fluctuations in the international market.
He said the arrangement would give refiners greater certainty in planning their operations while helping to stabilise petrol prices for consumers.
Oyedele said, “As production rises and previously committed crude is freed up, these will shield pump prices from volatility in the global markets.
“So the idea we have is an idea that is sustainable. You can sell your crude forward.
“We say to the refiners, for the next six months, we are selling you crude at $80 per barrel, for example. That preserves your budgets, provides certainty to the refiners and price stability to the consumer.”