In a press release issued Monday (yesterday) the Oil marketing companies have stated that there has been no reduction in the price of petroleum products, as some members of the public have been intimating.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, an employee of one of the leading Oil marketing companies complained that their dealers were being harassed by some motorists who offer ten thousand Leones to their pump attendants after receiving a gallon of fuel, saying that the price has been put down.
The disastrous effect of this he said was that owners or operators of petrol stations are now holding back and not buying products because they are afraid of buying at a higher price and being forced to sell at a lower price which would result into huge losses for them.
The effect he explained is that petrol stations will soon dry out creating a situation of artificial scarcity and disrupting not only the economic life of the country but also the social life. Some petrol station operators he stated are even afraid of the wrath of the public since some members of the public are now confronting their attendants.
Reports say that transport operators have also been challenged by some members of the public that their transport fares have been reduced to five hundred leones.
According to the press release, the oil marketers are “requesting the cooperation of the public” in this regard “not to do any unofficial act that may disrupt the smooth and regular supply of fuel.” They also assured the public that they have reduced prices “twice within two weeks” and will do so again if the situation arises.