Petrol pumps flowing again

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 1

Petrol pumps flowing again

By

DAVID CLARKSON

Petrol deliveries al-

lowed about 12 Christchurch service stations to reopen yesterday after fuel tanks ran dry at the week-end. The deliveries were likely to last the petrol stations only a few days but the oil companies have said that more fuel supplies are expected soon and that no more problems are likely. The shortage appeared because of the delayed arrival at Lyttelton of the tanker Amokura. She discharged more than eight million litres of premium fuel from Brisbane. Petrol station owners say the supply situation has been tight for several months and some stations have been close to running out several times. Stations began running dry on Friday and more closed as the week-end continued. Shell and Caltex stations were mainly affected.

Owners believe the shortage is caused by the Marsden Point refinery’s capacity being less than expected after its major expansion.

Some station owners complained yesterday to “The Press” about the lost week-end business but the president of the Canterbury branch of the Retail Motor Trade Association, Mr John Gibson, of Darfield, said no official complaint had been received.