We had a petrol shortage unlike anything we get in Aus. This affected everyting with meetings cancelled and people fearing tehy wouldn't eb able to get anywhere soon. Now the tankers came in but it is all a still a bit up in the air. I have a full tank so I should be okay for now. This is a bit of an extract from a news service here to tell you all the lastest in local news here.
Oil arrives, shortages continue Even though two oil tankers have arrived in the Dominican Republic, apparently ending the recent fuel shortages, many gas stations were still without fuel as of last night. Contradictions continue between the explanations given by the Shell Oil Company, the government and the Venezuelan authorities for the reasons behind the lack of fuel. Although the Dominican Refinery SA (Refidomsa) had begun dispatching more than 18 million gallons of fuel in the hope of easing the shortage, many gas stations remained without fuel yesterday, causing long lines at the stations that did receive fuel. Adding to the problem is the announcement by the Association of Transporters that Texaco has canceled 20 contracts, and is looking to cancel 12 more. Texaco says that they have no relationship with some drivers because they are Chevron Caribbean employees. Industry and Commerce Minister Francisco Javier Garcia has said that if necessary a fuel rationing system will be put in place and the government will take on responsibility for controlling the distribution quotas. Meanwhile, the Shell Oil Company has said that it is not directly responsible for the oil shortage that threatened to paralyze the country over the last week, and assured that the conflict is between Chevron-Texaco and the transportation unions. In a letter from Shell that was sent to Hoy newspaper, the company specifies that the shortages were caused by the delay in fuel delivery. The letter also clarifies that the shortages in diesel fuel was caused by the exit of Coastal from the market and the recent problems with the Haina-Itabo energy generators. The generators required more fuel, which in turn decreased the amount available for public use. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
