TOR to supply coloured premix

Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) will from Monday August 10, 2009 change the colour of premix fuel to blue to help put a stop to the diversion of the commodity which is heavily subsidized and meant solely for use by the fishing community. A statement signed by the Minister for Information, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi on Monday night, said all tankers would be loaded with the blue-coloured premix from that day.

It said the colour and other measures, including the conspicuous branding of all tankers that would be lifting premix from TOR, would help stabilize supply and sanitise the industry. The statement said at a meeting attended by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), TOR, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the National Premix Committee and the Ministries of Energy and Agriculture, it was also agreed that OMCs would dedicate and boldly brand tankers for lifting premix from TOR.

The refinery, from a date yet to be fixed, will not load any tanker that is not branded "Premix".

The statement explained that the branding of the tankers and the blue coloured premix would help members of the public to identify and report any tanker seen discharging at a fuel station other than a landing beach area. It gave the assurance that the colour would have no negative effect on the outboard motors.

According to Mrs. Okaikoi, it had also been agreed with the OMCs that electronic tracking devices would be fixed on all "premix" tankers to track and monitor their movements. "These measures have been taken because of the high cost of subsidy and the identified diversion of the commodity by some fuel station owners and tanker drivers. To ensure the success of the various measures, it has also been agreed that the NPA will send out field teams to ensure that premix fuel gets to the designated points. "All these are expected to help normalize premix supply within the shortest possible time."