IOC petrol pumps in State go dry

Diesel supply hit as refineries in Mangalore, Chennai shut

Diesel supply was hit in most of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) petrol pumps across the City and southern regions of the State due to the closure of its refineries in Chennai and Mangalore for the past few days.

Last Friday, a refinery of MRPL in Mangalore stopped operations due to inadequate supply of water. At the same time, the Chennai refinery of the IOC too was shut for 15 days for annual maintenance. This resulted in acute shortage of diesel in the City.

Motorists had a horrid time for the last few days, especially since Sunday as many IOC petrol pumps put up ‘No stock’ boards. The problem aggravated on Thursday when many IOC pumps went dry. BPCL and HPCL dealers made good business because of the shortage at IOC outlets.

Many motorists accused the fuel service station owners and the oil companies of hoarding diesel to reap profits in view of possible fuel hike from Thursday midnight.

However, an office-bearer of the Bangalore Petroleum Dealers Association, B R Ravindranath, said it was only a rumour and an attempt to divert attention from the real cause of the problem.

“The problem persists since last Friday and Saturday when one of the MRPL refineries was closed, while the Chennai refinery is shut completely for 15 days for maintenance,” said Ravindranath.

He added that Bangalore is getting only 30 per cent of its requirement. According to him, there was no supply on Sunday and only 30 pc to 35 pc of the requirement was supplied on Monday. Diesel supply was hit on Tuesday too due to May Day. IOC stations in Mysore went without diesel on Saturday and Sunday.

“On Wednesday, the dealers made a hue and cry when the crisis intensified due to acute shortage of diesel. The IOC then started manually loading diesel in the evening at its Chennai refinery. Yet, against the required 600 loads, Bangalore got only 100 loads,” said Ravindranath.

The Divisional Manager of the IOC G Ramesh admitted that there was a crisis and the IOC was trying hard to set things right.

“We did have a problem since last Friday, but now the situation is under control. Our Chennai refinery has started functioning. We had to order diesel from our Baroda refinery.”

However, BPCL and the HPCL did not have any problem. BPCL gets fuel from Kochi and HPCL draws diesel from its Vishakhapatnam refinery.