Apropos a news item "OMCs responsible for artificial shortage of petrol", carried by Business Recorder on January 4, the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) has clarified that it has been attributed that despite sufficient stocks, "OMCs have created artificial shortage of motor gasoline.
The factual position is that in December 2008, the overall days cover in the country reduced to 4 days which is very low considering reduced availability from refineries due to L/C Liquidity related issues persisting for last two months.
"The surge in sales of motor gasoline of 22 percent over the same period last year was witnessed in December 2008 due to CNG shortage in the country and to meet the growing demand and shortfall of supplies from refinery, MP&NR gave permission for import of 25,000 MTs which arrived and berthed at Keamari on 26/12/2008.
The shipment to Upcountry Depots started thru tank lorries after ships tanks were finalised but unfortunately arrival of these tank lorries at destination was delayed to fog which caused sporadic shortages at Upcountry consumption centers," the clarification concluded.