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Problems And Prospect Of Marketing Petroleum Products

(Case Study Of Study Of Infra Oil Company Nigeria Plc Enugu – Ngwo)

5 Chapters
|
90 Pages
|
10,681 Words

The marketing of petroleum products presents a myriad of challenges and opportunities. One significant problem revolves around fluctuating oil prices, which can impact both production costs and consumer demand. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations pose challenges for marketing petroleum products, necessitating investments in cleaner technologies and sustainable practices to meet evolving standards and consumer preferences. Competition within the industry is intense, with companies vying for market share amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics and economic uncertainties. However, there are also promising prospects in emerging markets and the growing demand for alternative fuels, such as renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, presenting avenues for diversification and innovation. Effective marketing strategies that leverage market research, digital technologies, and strategic partnerships can help companies navigate these complexities and capitalize on opportunities for growth and sustainability in the dynamic petroleum industry landscape.

ABSTRACT

This research who investigated the problems and prospects of marketing petroleum products in Nigeria (A case study of INFRA Oil Company Nigeria Plc Enugu-Nkwo).
The major objectives of this project or research was to examine those problems that affects marketing of petroleum product in Nigeria, using INFRA Oil Company Nigeria Plc as the case study. To accomplish the above objectives therefore, the work has to be divided into five chapters. The first chapter introduces an introduction. It points out the background of the study and scope. While chapter two reviews the literature and the problems.
Again, chapter three constitutes the main body of the project. here, it highlighted on the methodology which comprises, area of study, population of study, sample technique, instrument for data collection validity and reliability of the instrument. And in chapter four, it deals on data presentation and analysis and how the respondents answered their questions as shown in the tables.
Furthermore, chapter five summarizes all the write-up by way of funding recommendation, limitation of study, suggestion for further study and concerns this project.

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Approval Page
Dedication
Abstract
Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE
Introduction 1
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Brief History of the Company 7
1.3 Statement of the problems 8
1.4 Purpose of the study 10
1.5 Scope of the study 11
1.6 Research questions 11
1.7 Research Hypothesis 12
1.8 Significance of the Study 12

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 14
2.1 Review of the problems
Affecting Petroleum Marketing 24
2.2 Tends and Prospects in Marketing
Petroleum Products in Nigeria 35
2.3 Future Prospects of INFRA Oil
Company Plc Marketing 41
2.4 Mode of Distribution 42
2.5 The Departments involved in Distribution
of Petroleum Products 43
2.6 Summary of Related Review 44

CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 45
3.1 Research Design 45
3.2 Area of study 47
3.3 Population of the Study 47
3.4 Population Sample Technique 47
3.5 Instrument for Data Collection 48
3.6 Validation of the Instrument 48
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument 49
3.8 Method of Data Collection 49
3.9 Method of Data Analysis 49

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 51
4.1 Strategically Presentation of Marketing Petroleum
Products 51
4.2 Testing of Hypothesis 59
4.3 Summary of Results/Findings 63

CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATION
AND CONCLUSIONS 65
5.1 Discussion of the Result/Findings 66
5.2 Conclusions 68
5.3 Implication(s) of the Research Findings 69
5.4 Recommendations 70
5.5 Suggestions for Further Research 71
BIBLIOGRAPHY 73
APPENDIX 76
QUESTIONNAIRES 80
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 4.1 Strategically Marketing of Petroleum Products
TABLE 4.2 LACKS OF Skills on Petroleum Products
TABLE 4.3 Effects of our Road Network on Petroleum
TABLE 4.4 Marketing Activities of the Company
TABLE 4.5 Improper maintenance of the Equipment
TABLE 4.6 Poorly Working Condition on Workers
TABLE 4.7 Customers Satisfaction Rating
TABLE 4.8 Availability of the Petroleum Products
TABLE 4.9 Computation of the Test Statistics
TABLE 1.10 Computation of the Test Statistics.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
The aim of this chapter is to present the introductory part of this work which comprises the followings:
The background of the study, brief history of the company etc.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Oil exploration began in Nigeria in 1908, although the documentation of the occurrence of minerals was reported some five years earlier in 1903. The exploration efforts were punctuated by the two wars but eventually yielded result with the discovery of oil in Olribiri in 1956 by shell – BP.
Production increased from a mere 5,000 barrels per day (bid) in 1957 to 17,000 b/d by independence in 1960 and leap flogged to 450,000 b/d by 1966. although this upward trend was slowed by the civil war, by 1970 daily production had reached one million barrels. A peak production level of 2.4 million barrels per day was achieved during the second quarter 1979.
Production had fallen since them to the current 1.611 billion b/d both on technical grounds and adherence to OPEC quota brought about by the need to control production to support prices.
Government’s interest in the oil industry was handled by a number of government department of petroleum in the ministry of mines and power 1970. although the Nigeria National oil Corporation (NNOC), the forerunner to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was formed in 1971 primarily to market. Nigeria crude oil, government’s direct involvement in the marketing of oil did not begin until 1973. that was when the government started having it’s own equity crude acquisition of participation interest in the operations of the oil companies.
The government initially sold back the bulk of it’s participation oil to the foreign oil operation companies through a buy-back arrangement. Under this arrangement, the government sold back 50 percent of its equity crude oil to another companies at a concessionary price to help cushion the effects of it’s participation and to enable the companies meet previous long term commitments.
It sold another 25% of it’s oil to the companies option oil. The remaining 25% was sold to third party customers, that is, those buyers with no concession or stake in the country. The buy-back arrangement with the producing companies terminated in December 1975 giving way to a formal sales agreement between the NNOC and the various producing companies operating arrangement in all OPEC countries was meant as an interim arrangement to ensure the oil producing countries some access to government crude oil hitherto controlled and disposed by the companies and partly to enable government and it’s agency gradually develop the framework, for international oil sales. The NNPC therefore had to develop avenues other than through international majors for disposing it’s crude oil. Hence NNOC entered into sales agreements effective in September 1973 with two independence oil companies namely, Gelsenberg (a German Company) and Termco can American oil company). The total sales of 40,000 b/d to these two companies represented the first successful efforts in direct marketing of govt. crude to third party buyers.
The second attempt at direct marketing took place during the lasting quarter of 1973 which coincided with the energy crises bought on by the Arab-Israeli war. The Crumble to purchase Nigerian crude oil brought as many as 113 foreign companies in a purchase bid. However, the four successful companies having initiated their contracts on December 22, 1973 failed to sign the contracts in January 1974 when invited to do so on the grounds that the 22 60 per barrel prices was higher than what they could live with.
The only new oil sale contract entered into during the oil crises was with the Ghana government which started oil lifting in Nigeria in the February q974. the 10,000 b/d contract on the basis of government to-government contracts as consumer government in both the developed and developing nations besieged NNOC in the wake of oil shortage during the 1973 Arab oil embergo. The oil shortage of 1979 following the sales to independent oil buyers and government of consumer countries.
The cyclical market downturn of 1976-1978 shared the independent oil as mere fail weather friends who besiege you when the trading marging are good but are the first to varnish at the slightest hint of a downturn.
Between 1976 and 1978, during the world economic recession that followed the 1973 /74 four-fold oil price increase, about 65% of our direct sales went to the oil producing companies who had a stake in Nigeria. In 1979 and 1980 when the oil market had improved substantially. There was a swing back to third –party customers and government to-government sales.

Direct sales to the oil producing companies dropped from 65% in 1977 t0 3% in 1980 sales to third party customer’s and on government to government basis increased from 30% and 5% in 1977 to 43% and 18% respectively. The collapse of the market in 1986 again witness a shift back to the oil producing companies averaging about 61% percent of oil sales while third party government to government sales dropped to 28% and 12% respectively.
The culmination of the givens back and forth from independent third-party buyers, most of them merely traders to oil producing companies let to the termination in early 1988 of all third parties contracts when almost all such third parties had stopped lifting during unfavourable market conditions.
It was then decided by government to adopt a new sales strategy that would guarantee regular and secure outlets for the crude oil and steady flow of revenue.

1.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF INFRA OIL NIGERIA PLC
INFRA oil Nigeria Plc is a leader among the major Nigerian marketers of refined petroleum products. The company was incorporated on the 8th of July 1975 following the acquisition of 50% equity share of Shell Nig Ltd by the federal government of Nigeria. Before this period, the company was operating as SHELL Trading Company Service 1927. By 1938, it existed as oil storage company of Apapa-OSCH and also existed as shell company of West Africa. Ltd by 1952, covering Nigeria and the English speaking West African countries.
The company registered as SHELL company of Nigeria ltd in 1960 following the Nigeria’s independence and the companys Act of 1968 saw it converted to shell Nigeria limited. In the these transformations, the total equity holding was held by SHELL Intenational petroleum company limited.
Later, the company became jointly owned by federal government of Nigeria, and SHELL Petroleum Company Lagos limited following an arrangement reached in Lagos on Tuesday April, 1975 between the company and then Military Government of Nigeria. INFRA Oil Nigeria Plc emerged as a result of this. Under the government the Federal Government has 60% interest, while shell Nigeria limited had 40% interest in the company.
As a result of this, the familiar SHELL Eblem was replaced by the Eagle-the Nigeria National Emblem. However, with the federal government sales of a third of its equity share holding in the company publicly quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange in 1989.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS
This study is centered on the problems and prospects of marketing petroleum product in Nigeria using INFRA Oil Nigeria Plc as case study. There are lot of petroleum’s in the marketing of petroleum products in Nigeria. These problems are as follows:
(i) Shortage in Supply or supply problems.
(ii) Poor State of refineries.
(iii) Union activities e.g. petrol tanker drivers union.
(iv) Government involvement (Regulation).
(v) Vandalisation of pipe –lines.
(vi) Excessive demand for petroleum products
(vii) Activities of smugglers
(viii) Speculation about increment of petroleum product
(ix) Hoarding
(x) Ethnic wars in oil producing areas
(xi) Poor conditions of our road’s network most problems associated with marketing of petroleum products in Nigeria could be seen as supply problems. In the next chapter, these problems shall be detailed.
On the other hand the sub marketers i.e. oil companies and independent marketers also go through some problems but fewer compared suppliers problems.

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
this study was aimed as specifically finding out the following issues:
i) Marketing of petroleum product in Nigeria using INFRA OIL Nigeria Plc.
ii) Alternative measures or prospects to marketing these products for better customers service.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is an evaluation of the problems and prospect of marketing petroleum products in Nigeria, having INFRA Oil Nigeria Plc as case study with it’s office located at Ngwo Enugu.

This study will be carried out with customers and staff of INFRA oil within Enugu Metropolis and will be limited to lubricants which is one out of many products the company deals on.

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
i) To what extent has lack of petroleum product at INFRA Nigeria Plc affected the distribution system.
ii) To what extent has lack of management skill and personnel lapses hinder the efficient distribution system.
iii) At what extent has poor condition of our roads network affect the efficient and effective distribution of petroleum product in INFRA Oil Company.
iv) Are there any problems in marketing activities of INFRA Oil’s products?
v) How far does the poor maintenance of equipment affect the industry?
vi) To what extent has the poor working condition for oil workers affected the general marketing of petroleum product?

1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The tentative statement of assumption to this research topic are:
(i) The customers of the company are not satisfied with the level of service they got.
(ii) The products are not always available at the right time, quality and quantity.

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
“To engage in an efficient disposition of government crude through aggressive marketing, adequate allocation for domestic consumption of appropriate crude for domestic use through exchange arrangements. This was as stated by Mr. D.A. Bayero, National co-ordination of NAPIMS.

It is of great importance to understand the problems faced with marketing of goods and services in INFRA Oil company and relatively other marketing companies so as to be able to introduce a working strategic management system. This system could be in form of prospects or expectations of an expatriate in the marketing sector or otherwise necessitating the significance of the study.
Availability of petroleum products at the right time, quality and quantity to customers is a task oil companies must accomplish to increase their level of customers service.
This study will also offer future researchers opportunities to identify major problems in the marketing of petroleum products in Nigeria and also identifying prospects in these problems.

 

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Marketing petroleum products presents both challenges and opportunities. Here are some of the key problems and prospects associated with marketing petroleum products:

Problems:

  1. Price Volatility: Petroleum product prices are highly volatile due to factors like geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and fluctuations in crude oil prices. This volatility can make it challenging to forecast and plan for pricing strategies.
  2. Environmental Concerns: Increasing environmental awareness and regulations are pressuring the petroleum industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Marketing petroleum products that are considered environmentally unfriendly can lead to negative public perception and regulatory hurdles.
  3. Competition: The petroleum industry is highly competitive, with numerous companies vying for market share. This competition can lead to price wars and slim profit margins.
  4. Supply Chain Complexity: The petroleum supply chain is complex, involving extraction, refining, transportation, and distribution. Managing this supply chain efficiently is a significant challenge, especially when dealing with global markets.
  5. Regulatory Compliance: The petroleum industry is heavily regulated to ensure safety, environmental protection, and fair competition. Staying compliant with these regulations requires significant resources and can pose legal risks if not followed correctly.
  6. Changing Consumer Preferences: As consumers become more conscious of environmental issues, there is a growing demand for alternative fuels and electric vehicles. Marketing traditional petroleum products may face declining demand in the long term.

Prospects:

  1. Diversification: Petroleum companies can diversify their product offerings by investing in cleaner and renewable energy sources. This can help them adapt to changing consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
  2. Technological Advancements: Advances in technology, such as improved refining processes and more fuel-efficient vehicles, can lead to cost savings and improved product quality.
  3. Global Demand: Despite the rise of alternative energy sources, global demand for petroleum products is expected to remain strong, particularly in emerging markets. This presents opportunities for growth.
  4. Infrastructure Expansion: Developing infrastructure in underserved regions can open up new markets for petroleum products. This includes expanding distribution networks and storage facilities.
  5. Brand Image: Companies that invest in sustainability and corporate social responsibility can enhance their brand image and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
  6. Innovation: Innovations in marketing strategies, such as digital marketing and e-commerce, can help petroleum companies reach a wider audience and improve customer engagement.
  7. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with other industries, such as automotive manufacturers or technology companies, can lead to new opportunities for marketing petroleum products in innovative ways.

In conclusion, marketing petroleum products comes with its share of challenges, including price volatility, environmental concerns, and regulatory compliance. However, there are also prospects for growth and adaptation, such as diversification into cleaner energy sources, technological advancements, and global demand. Successful marketing in the petroleum industry will require a combination of strategic planning, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability.