Several major petroleum suppliers, including TOTAL and Super Petroleum, have been booked hoarding gas to create an artificial shortage and increase prices. The Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) last night released findings of a random survey its team of inspectors, in close collaboration and coordination with the Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Commerce, had conducted on illegal sales of petroleum products in Liberia by “unscrupulous persons.”
According to a communique from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, violations by the below-listed perpetrators will be assessed and fines will be appropriated levied within the framework of the law that stipulates a minimum of USD$1,000.0 and a maximum of USD$5000.00 or imprisonment.
Filing stations caught red-handed hoarding gas to create artificial shortage were Total, Super Petroleum (SP), Aminata, Tweh Farm Gas Station and the Ultimate Gas Station. At the 5th Street version of Total Gas Station, inspectors said a tanker was dipped and that held products that were not being sold. At the 12th Street version of SP, they found petroleum products that were being concealed from the public.
At the same time, the Bassa Buchanan Gas Station was caught with 65 gallons of gasoline that they were not selling. This was the same thing with the SP station at Jamaica Road, which had 775 gallons that it refused to sell to the public. Also, the Aminata station in Logan Town had 725 gallons of gas that it wouldn’t sell.
Similarly, the Battery factory version of SP filing station was caught with 400 gallons that it has refused to supply the public with; while the C. Omaru Filing Station [also at Battery Factory] had 500 gallons of gas that they had concealed from the public. The Tweh Farm station had 270 gallons that it wouldn’t sell; while the Ultimate station decided to sell its 650 gallons at LRD$335, exceeding the new price ceiling set by the Ministry of Commerce. The Ultimate Gas Station has since been charged with economic sabotage.
The pump head of the Makeshift Gas Station in Gardnerville was taken to the nearest police station by the LPRC team of inspectors for hiking the pump price of gas to LRD$390, far beyond the stipulated price by government. Also, the Prophet Filing Station was caught selling a gallon of gas at LRD$400.
All of the above mentioned filing stations have been invited to give reasons why they are not selling their products. The Ministry intends to conduct weekly meetings with stakeholders to coordinate enforcement with LPRC and importers to monitor approved prices and facilitate a dialogue to develop strategies to address public concerns.
It will also coordinate supply updates to incoming orders to be delivered in the country. Meanwhile, on today, December 12 and on Friday, December 14, two vessels will arrive providing a total of 3,500 metric tons or 1.2 million gallons of petroleum to the market. Prices of petroleum that distributors must now observe are placed at US$423/LD$310per gallon for gasoline. And for fuel oil: US$451/LD325.00.
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