The Tema Oil Refinery has given assurance of adequate fuel supply dismissing speculations of shortage of gas oil and other products on the market. Managing Director of TOR, Dr K.K Sarpong attributed the apparent shortage of stocks to “logistical distribution inadequacies and the high demand for gas oil to run power generating plants due to power outages.” Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, Dr Sarpong also cited power outages which temporarily shut down the heading gantry, limiting weekend transfers to loading points outside of the refinery. There were also constraints relating to transportation of products of Takoradi and Buipe. He observed that the high demand for petroleum products over the years due to increased economic activities for the perceived shortage. For example he said the demand for petroleum products rose from 1.136, 574 metric tones in 2003 to 1.866.086 in 2006, whilst that of gas oil naturally went up from 17.500 metric tones per week in 2004 to 20.500 metric tones per week, adding that TOR was currently producing at 90 per cent capacity both at the Crude Distillation Unit and the Residual Fuel Catalytic Cracker. Dr Sarpong said to mitigate the problem, a special programme had been put in place to supply high demand service station with regular supply products. Additionally, plans were far advanced to expand gantry facilities and ensure internal generation of all electricity requirements which sometimes halted production activities. He said the Bulk Oil Storage (BOST) has also added two new bays for loading of diesel and gas oil which will be commissioned very soon and loading gantry hours at the refinery has been extended from 10 hours to 14 hours. Dr Sarpong gave the assurance that sufficient arrangement had been made with the National Petroleum Authority to import additional refined products for refined products for domestic consumption. He disclosed that the committee set up to investigate the cause of oil spillage into the Chemu Lagoon has submitted its report which will be made public next week after management has studied it. Source: The Ghanaian Times