The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies says it expects the fuel shortage situation to improve significantly by the end of Monday.
This follows the release of about nine million liters of petrol to retail stations across the country.
Citi News’ checks reveal there are still queues at some of the pump stations despite the release of fuel.
The Chamber insists the situation will ease significantly by close of the day.
Speaking to Citi News, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Bulk Oil distribution Companies, Senyo Horsi explained that the Chamber will try to move documentation and swap products across depots to be able to sell fuel from the Accra depot.
“We are trying to move documentation and swap products across depots so we can sell out of Accra depot which belongs to the BDC stock… we are expecting that we should be able to move even more today since we will be having even more terminals to sell out,” Mr. Horsi explained.
He noted that some consumers did not have fuel because the distribution made by the BDCs was not reflecting at the various stations. Another contributing factor to the problem, he said, was the refusal of some filling stations to sell the fuel it had received from the BDCs to consumers.
Mr Horsi encouraged Ghanaians not to panic since the problem will be addressed after the BDCs distribute more fuel on Monday.
“We believe that we would have more credits today or tomorrow ….the situation should not be a problem at all.”
Meanwhile, Citi FM’s Ashanti regional correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu says the fuel shortage problem still persists in the region despite government’s release of fuel.
According to her, some filling stations in the city have closed down while others are waiting in long queues to be served.
“I spoke to one of the petrol attendants and she told me that she needs to speak to his manager before he can serve his clients with petrol,” Hawa Iddrisu said.
From Ho, Norbert Akpabli reported that “the drivers are considering the sort of route where they will get more passengers so they can efficiently use their little fuel and get their needed profit at the end of the day.”
“Some commuters are also struggling with this problem because they have to stand by the roadside for close to thirty minutes before they can get a vehicle to their destination,” Nobert added.
Speaking to Citi News, a taxi driver said “the shortage is affecting productivity in the region.”
Reporting from the Upper East Region, Fred Awuni, said prices of fuel have risen following the shortage.
According to him, “the fuel situation in the Upper East region has still not changed after the National Petroleum Authority announced that it has dispatched fuel into the system.”
“There are long queues in the region while others are hoarding the fuel they have. Workers are saying they will be unable to go to work due to the problem.”
Citi FM’s Northern regional correspondent, Mashood Kombat, reported that the police in the region are going round the various filling stations to check reports of hoarding in some filling stations.
According to Citi FM’s Tema correspondent, Elvis Washington, most of the people who visited the fuel stations in the area were turned away.
Citi FM’s Brong Ahafo regional correspondent, Kwadwo Brefo reports that the shortage has created a ‘black market’.
“Fuel in the region is being sold at exorbitant prices”
There has been fuel shortage in Accra and other regions for sometime now due to government’s inability to pay about 1.8 billion cedis owed the Bulk Oil Distributors Companies.
Government has so far paid about 600 million out of the total amount.
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By: citifmonline.com
