Fuel shortage hits parts of Accra

Parts of Accra have been hit by fuel shortage, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has confirmed. The NPA explained that the situation was the result of the five storage depots in Tema not working full-time during the Christmas holidays and the late arrival of vessels carrying refined fuel.

Bad weather

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the NPA, Mr Yaro Kasambata, said the vessels did not arrive at the stipulated time because they were hindered by bad weather. Notwithstanding the situation, the PRO indicated, the issue was not as serious as was being portrayed in certain quarters.

“We are only experiencing low shortage in petrol; there is diesel at all the stations,” he said, adding that the problem would be resolved soon and fuel could be purchased at any of the retail outlets.

He said in spite of the situation there were stocks of fuel in the system and added that transporters were ready to transport the fuel to the various retail outlets in the city.

Situation in Accra

In Accra some of the stations ran out of supplies 10 days ago. Some fuel filling stations had posted ‘no fuel’ notices at their entrances.

When the Daily Graphic visited some filling stations at Kaneshie and Abossey Okai, the attendants complained that they had completely run out of petrol but had diesel in stock.

Outstanding orders

According to the station managers, they had outstanding orders for petrol but did not know when it would be delivered.

At the Total Service Station at Abossey Okai, the Station Manager, Mr Joseph Asante, said his station had run out of petrol since January 2, 2014 and added that he was waiting for the delivery of an order he placed that same day.

“Under normal circumstance, I would have gotten the fuel that same day I placed the order but it appears things are getting worse,” he stated.

Operating at a loss  

According to Mr Asante, the shortage had resulted in his station operating at a loss due to the “high utility bills.” “Whether there is fuel to sell or not, you make use of electricity to operate every gadget at the station,” he explained.

 Similar concerns were expressed by a supervisor at the Weija North Service Shell Station. “We have an outstanding one week order for petrol and we are yet to take the delivery,” the supervisor, who wanted his name withheld, told  this paper.

“We should be selling super petrol by now but we have nothing,” he said, adding that the station had diesel extra for sale.

No vehicular queues

During the visits, the long vehicular queues associated with filling stations during fuel shortages were  absent and the station managers said motorists were aware of the shortage, for which reason they did not want to waste their time by queuing.