Tema, June 3, GNA - Fuel filling stations in Tema have not experienced shortages of petroleum products despite complains about shortages in parts of the country.

A visit to the stations by the GNA in Tema on Tuesday showed that the attendants were serving drivers and there were no queues. Fuel stations visited were Total, Shell, Mobil and GOIL in communities, One, Two and Seven whose attendants told the GNA that they would not hoard the products in anticipation of an alleged price increase.

A reliable source at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) told newsmen on Tuesday that TOR is not refining products because it was undergoing maintenance work and could not tell when it would complete. The source said some of the private oil companies have brought their stock to the TOR for distribution on their behalf while others take their stock directly from their (Oil Companies) depot.

Presently, the source said TOR has super, gasoline and kerosene in stock which it is distributing on behalf of the private companies. It said the essence of the deregulation system was to allow private participation in the import and distribution of petroleum products while the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has the sole responsibility of lifting the fuel for distribution to the companies. 03 June 09