The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Energy, Akwasi Sarpong, has explained that the acute fuel shortage that seems to have hit almost every part of the country can partially be attributed to the late arrival of vessels discharging the products to the Tema Oil Refinery�s Tanks at Tema.
Speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on �Kokrokoo, Mr. Sarpong admitted that TOR�s inability to refine crude for more than a year, was also a contributory factor. The situation, he said, has put immense pressure on the government to import finished products mainly from Nigeria, and other parts of the world.
�When TOR was refining crude, over 60% of the market was being satisfied by the Refinery and the bulk traders was accountable for the rest of the market�but because of some constraints faced by TOR, a large part of the responsibility lies on these bulk traders or oil trading companies,� he said.
Report by Correspondents across the country this morning, painted a gloomy picture on the scarcity of the commodity.
The severe shortages, had brought trading activities to a halt in some regional capitals, including Cape Coast, Kumasi, Accra, Offinso, Goaso, Techiman, Sefwi Asawinso, Tamale, and other parts of the country.
In some areas, most especially Sefwi Asawinso, the situation was so dire that some petrol filling stations had been without fuel for two weeks, causing most motorists to park their cars and motorbikes.
About 57 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are said to owe the refinery about three hundred and eighty million Ghana Cedis.
PEACEFM is reliably informed that in due time about 20 of these defaulting companies will have their names published.
The new administration of TOR early this year cut off some Oil Marketing Companies which have exceeded their grace periods in paying their debts, thus compounding the situation.
The scarcity had caused some areas to even ration fuel as drivers were been served with one gallon of patrol each to ensure that everybody had a fair share.
Commuters travelling to other parts of the region were said to be stranded as there were no vehicles at the lorry parks to take them to their destinations.
But Mr. Sarpong claims the worst is over and gave the assurance that by the close of day, the problem would have been resolved.
�I am stressing that we�ve enough fuel. As I speak to you now, last night we loaded 2million litres�by tomorrow, I promised you that all this trouble of fuel shortages will be over,� he assured.
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