A whole lot
of gas: Rumours panic buying, but today brings
By Juhel Browne
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
09 17 06
Energy
Minister Dr Lenny Saith assured yesterday that the
supply of gasoline to those stations that have suffered
some shortages over the past two days should resume
by today.
In
a telephone interview at 5.05 p.m. yesterday, Saith
said the shortages at gas stations in north, central
and south Trinidad resulted from the combination
of delivery problems and the panic buying of fuel
by vehicle owners.
"The
version I have now is that trucks are delivering
and by tomorrow all gas stations should have enough
gasoline," Saith said.
"It's
not a gasoline shortage. It is a delivery shortage.
There is enough gasoline at the refinery. There
was a problem at NP concerning the delivery."
Saith,
who is also the Public Administration Minister,
said he had been kept abreast of the situation but
did not directly intervene. He noted it was a matter
between the management of the State-owned Petrotrin
refinery and the National Petroleum Marketing Co
Ltd and the Oilfield Workers Trade Union.
Mass
panic buying of gasoline and diesel began on Friday
afternoon soon after OWTU president Errol McLeod
told reporters that a number of Petrotrin's plants
has been shut down as management failed to conclude
negotiations on a new three-year collective bargaining
agreement.
The
panic buying continued yesterday, resulting in long
lines at gas stations throughout the country.
At
the NP service station on the corner of Richmond
Street and Park Street in Port of Spain, the Sunday
Express observed police officers directing the long
lines of vehicles there.
"By
tomorrow, there should be no shortage at the gas
stations," Saith said but he cautioned:
"If
there is abnormal demand on the supply, they will
run out.'"
Trinidad
Express
Sunday, September 10th 2006
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©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
