The local aviation industry reportedly hit by an acute shortage of aviation fuel since Tuesday, yesterday began receiving the first consignment for the week. The Tema Oil Refinery discharged fuel for Oil Marketing Companies at the Kotoka International Airport for supply to the airlines which had been experiencing fuel shortage. The shortage, according to information available indicates that this was due to the inability of the Tema Oil Refinery to carry out its normal supply obligations to the OMCs due to “technical difficulties”. A letter from the Joint User Hydrant Installation Operating Committee to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority said the Tema Oil Refinery had been unable to meet the Jet A1 fuel requirements since Friday, January 19, due to “technical difficulties”. It said “as a result, Jet A1 supplies to the airport have been significantly constrained and we will not be able to meet normal full requirements for all scheduled flights from 1400 hours today, Tuesday 23, 2007 until further notice”. The JUHI operating committee made up of representatives of Shell Ghana Limited and Total is responsible for the fuel depots at the airport. The situation has consequently compelled some airlines at the Kotoka International Airport to either cancel or reschedule departures or arrival times of their flights while others are making alternative arrangements. The officer in charge of Emirates Airlines at KIA, Bedford Otto commenting on the problem said as a way out their incoming flights from Dubai will fuel from Dubai and Abidjan respectively. He said they have also had to compromise on cargo and passenger baggage to be able to handle the situation. As at press time yesterday, a Monarch Airline enroute to South Africa which had to make a technical stop over was sitting on the tarmac, apparently due to the unavailability of fuel. When contacted, the acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation said they were in discussions with TOR and the OMCs to find out when normal supplies would be restored. He said though the contract for the supplies of aviation fuel is between TOR and the OMCs and airlines, “as managers of the airport, we are deeply concerned because if the situation persists for a long period, it would seriously disrupt operations at the airport. However, the Public Relations Officer if TOR, Mrs Aba Lokko for her part said it was only on Wednesday that the TOR did not supply fuel to the OMCs for technical reasons. “As we speak, TOR is discharging oil for supply to the airport”, she said. Source: The Ghanaian Times