Thursday May 1, 2008
Emergency supply of diesel sent to Miri
MIRI: An emergency supply of 350,000 litres of diesel was sent to northern Sarawak early yesterday as the fuel stock dried up following a sudden surge in demand here.
Oil-producing giants in Bintulu, 250km south of here, delivered the SOS stock from fuel depots via the Pan Borneo Highway to ensure enough stock to start the day.
The diesel supply ran out on Tuesday, some 48 hours before the new diesel quota for May could arrive.
The sudden dip in diesel stock caught the authorities and motorists by surprise.
Some 10 million litres of diesel stock are allotted for this city alone every month, an amount that is deemed huge and considered enough to cater to the population of 300,000 here.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Miri division chief Zakaria Awang said the diesel quota for the month of April ran out on April 28, two days before the May supply could arrive.
“The shortage is temporary in nature. Some of the petrol stations had no more stock to sell,” he said yesterday.
“The emergency supply should be enough to meet the needs until the May quota comes.”
Asked what had actually happened that caused the April quota to run out so fast, he said it was due to technical issues.
There was a surge in demand for diesel the past few days, possibly due to concerns that the fuel might run out and due to rumours of a fuel price hike.
When some petrol stations displayed notices saying that there was no more diesel, it prompted some motorists to resort to panic-buying at other stations.
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