The Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Ahmed Bobboi, says plans are in the pipeline to commence transportation of petroleum products through rail lines to save cost.

Mr Bobboi said this during an interaction with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, noting that petroleum product marketers needed a cheaper and convenient way of transporting products.

He said efforts have been intensified to ensure the early usage of rail lines in the transportation of petroleum products.

“We are also looking at the possibility of petroleum marketers transporting their products by rail because the government is providing rail lines across the country.

“If marketers patronise railway system it will increase the volume of petroleum product being transported because one rail journey will take 20 or more cargoes of the product.

“It will save cost and reduce pressure on the roads because most state governments are complaining that heavy-duty vehicles have destroyed the roads and I think it will reduce the cost of road maintenance for the government,” Mr Bobboi said.

According to Mr Bobboi, PEF will continue to discharge its duties to ensure that there is a uniform pump price of petroleum product nationwide.

He likened PEF activities on petroleum product to coca-cola and bottled water which has the same price nationwide.

“It is the same approach that PEF adopts in equalising for petroleum product, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel,” Mr Bobboi added.

The PEF was established in 1975 with a mandate to administer uniform pump price of petroleum products particularly sold at various filling stations nationwide, yet the pump price differs from filling station to filling station and from state to state.