Supply hitches may cause nationwide fuel scarcity

Hitches in the supply chain of petrol may extend the current scarcity of the product in some parts to other areas of the country, oil marketers have said. Our correspondent gathered from the marketers on Tuesday that most depots were currently being starved of petrol by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the only source through which they could get the product.A source at one of the major oil marketing companies, who did not want his identity revealed because of the sensitive nature of the subject, told our correspondent that "supply is inadequate and the fourth quarter import allocation has not been effected." These, he explained, had left the marketers with the option of getting the product only from the NNPC."There has not been importation of petroleum products for two months," the source disclosed. He said before now, a litre of petrol was being supplied from the depots at between N54.50 and N56, but that it was now being given to the marketers at between N60 and N63.The source also spoke on the possibility of fuel being moved across the countrys borders for "black market" deals."We loaded a full truck of 33,000 litres just yesterday (Monday), and in less than 24 hours, the truck is back for a refill," he said.A source at the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers also confirmed the inadequacy of fuel supply, saying that some marketers were currently rationing the product.Expressing surprise over the poor supply situation, the source said, "I dont see any reason why there should be scarcity of the product. May be the government is trying to force the fuel subsidy idea on the people by creating artificial scarcity."According to him, the supply constraint is not only affecting petrol, as the price of kerosene has also risen in recent times owing to supply inadequacies.
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