“The major cost in the supply of petrol is diesel. The high cost of diesel is the reason for petrol scarcity and the high price of PMS. AGO is used to transport petrol. The vessels or ships that bring in PMS are powered by diesel. The depots and petrol stations are powered by diesel. So diesel is at the heart of petrol distribution.“I have said this before if you fix the high cost of diesel by lowering the price, it will significantly reduce the pump price of petrol.
He also praised the intervention of the Department of Security Services, DSS, in resolving the petrol supply challenge, saying it helped in easing the difficulties faced by independent marketers. “The DSS coming in made things easier a bit. They were able to do something that made the process easier”, he added.
He harped on the need to fix roads across the country and also getting the refineries working again, stressing that cost of operations would be significantly lower if these issues are addressed. Mr. Korie said the marketers have been assured by the government that the Port Harcourt Refinery would become operational in the New Year.