…Says 2m gallons due today
14 February 2014, Monrovia – Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) has urged Liberians not to panic but remain calm in the wake of recent fuel shortage on the Liberian market near six days ago.
Addressing journalists at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, on Thursday, February 13, 2014, Mr. T. Nelson Williams noted that the shortage of fuel on the Liberian market was a result of technical difficulties generated by a petroleum vessel that was bringing in two million gallons diesel fuel while in route to Monrovia.
The LPRC Boss informed journalists that the vessel was to arrive on Monday but will now arrive in Monrovia today at about 1:00 PM, adding that the situation at hand is not a crisis but an issue that is being worked on swiftly.
Said Director Williams: “What made bad matters worse was that where we get ninety percent of our products which is the Ivory Coast is temporarily shutdown for routine maintenance. So to get products quickly, in the country was not feasible because right now we are getting products offshore to North Africa and Europe. And so because of that we are still expecting that vessel to arrive tomorrow. We actually got confirmation that that vessel will be in the country tomorrow at any time after 1PM.”
Williams said in the midst of the current shortage of fuel in the country, an assessment with the company’s supply tank reveals that an estimated one hundred fifty-seven thousand gallons of diesel feel (157,000) is still in the country. He said since Monday rationing of the fuel has been taking place, which has resulted to the presence and shortages of fuel at various filling stations across the country.
Continued Nelson: We have to make sure that our majour instillations have products first and we have to prioritize during this time. Yesterday, we were able to give out about fifty-two thousand gallons of fuel and we supply eleven thousand of which most went to LEC. And we also did all the main line stations. The NP, SP, Aminata, Total were being supplied Friday. So as you can see we do have an issue but not a crisis.
The vessel will be here tomorrow and what we expect to do is to offload in the evening and then to supply a hundred and two percent. We will go over on Saturday to ensure that we give everybody products and even those that are outside of the Montserrado and Margibi areas.
Director will revealed that the two million gallons of diesel that will arrive on Friday will serve the nation for about two weeks while another vessel is expected to arrive in a week time. He said the shortage of fuel will come to an end on Sunday when the necessary supplies will be completed and normal fueling activities is expected Monday next week.
“We are asking the Liberian public to please bear with us and exercise restraint, that way we can get out to more individuals than just giving a fuel,” he said.
– FrontPageAfrica
