OIL COMPANIES RATION PETROL
Dec 22, 2002
SOME filling stations in and around Kampala started rationing fuel yesterday on grounds that they did not have enough in stock.
By Yunusu Abbey
SOME filling stations in and around Kampala started rationing fuel yesterday on grounds that they did not have enough in stock.
At some outlets, pumps had dried up and attendants were lazing in the sun while others chatted in small groups. By 11:30am, the ever-busy Shell Bugolobi had run short of petrol while diesel was in limited supply.
A “No Petrol†notice in bold letters glared from a pump to alert incoming motorists. “Being a Sunday, we don’t expect to bring in any fresh consignment. We have to wait till tomorrow when our bosses are to order for more fuel,†said a young female pump attendant.
Some New Vision staff who obtain their fuel from Shell Bugolobi under a special scheme, failed to get it on Saturday.
Meanwhile, sources said a fuel dealer in Hoima (names withheld) had on Saturday raised the pump price from sh1,530 to sh2,000 per litre of petrol.
“But when we got the information, we alerted the dealer’s bosses at their headquarters here in Kampala,†Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the energy ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said yesterday.
“I understand they contacted him and he has now gone back to the normal pump price,†Kaliisa said.
A New Vision staff who was in Hoima at the weekend said, “We drove all the way from Hoima to Kiboga where we finally got some petrol.â€
At Shell Kireka, a pump attendant said out of the 15,000 litres they got on Friday, less than 8,000 litres had remained.
“The problem started from the Shell depot. Dealers were given between 10,000 and 15,000 litres while others got as little as 2,000 litres,†the attendant said.
At Kobil Bogolobi near Silver Springs, an official said they were selling not more than 20 litres per customer, “to avoid causing any artificial shortage.â€
But the Gapco outlet on Ben Kiwanuka Steet near Shoprite supermarket, was in normal business.
A manager, Hussein Ahmed, said they had enough fuel. “We have been operating normally. The depot officials have also assured us that there’s enough fuel in stock,†he said.
Max Kasule, a manager at the newly-opened Petro Uganda outlet on Kampala Road, said they also had enough fuel.
Kaliisa said there was no cause for alarm since oil companies were bringing in more fuel from Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya. Ends
SOME filling stations in and around Kampala started rationing fuel yesterday on grounds that they did not have enough in stock.
At some outlets, pumps had dried up and attendants were lazing in the sun while others chatted in small groups. By 11:30am, the ever-busy Shell Bugolobi had run short of petrol while diesel was in limited supply.
A “No Petrol†notice in bold letters glared from a pump to alert incoming motorists. “Being a Sunday, we don’t expect to bring in any fresh consignment. We have to wait till tomorrow when our bosses are to order for more fuel,†said a young female pump attendant.
Some New Vision staff who obtain their fuel from Shell Bugolobi under a special scheme, failed to get it on Saturday.
Meanwhile, sources said a fuel dealer in Hoima (names withheld) had on Saturday raised the pump price from sh1,530 to sh2,000 per litre of petrol.
“But when we got the information, we alerted the dealer’s bosses at their headquarters here in Kampala,†Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the energy ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said yesterday.
“I understand they contacted him and he has now gone back to the normal pump price,†Kaliisa said.
A New Vision staff who was in Hoima at the weekend said, “We drove all the way from Hoima to Kiboga where we finally got some petrol.â€
At Shell Kireka, a pump attendant said out of the 15,000 litres they got on Friday, less than 8,000 litres had remained.
“The problem started from the Shell depot. Dealers were given between 10,000 and 15,000 litres while others got as little as 2,000 litres,†the attendant said.
At Kobil Bogolobi near Silver Springs, an official said they were selling not more than 20 litres per customer, “to avoid causing any artificial shortage.â€
But the Gapco outlet on Ben Kiwanuka Steet near Shoprite supermarket, was in normal business.
A manager, Hussein Ahmed, said they had enough fuel. “We have been operating normally. The depot officials have also assured us that there’s enough fuel in stock,†he said.
Max Kasule, a manager at the newly-opened Petro Uganda outlet on Kampala Road, said they also had enough fuel.
Kaliisa said there was no cause for alarm since oil companies were bringing in more fuel from Mombasa and Nairobi, Kenya. Ends