Tema (Greater Accra), 9 Dec.,

The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has made the necessary contingency plans to abate any fuel shortage from now to the end of the Christmas period and thereafter, Mr.. William Paker, the chief executive, told GNA today. He explained that the long weekend from Friday to Sunday, when there was no supply, seemed to have created a problem of shortage and said 58 tankers, each carrying more than 27,000 litres, have been despatched to fill stations. Mr.. Parker disclosed that while TOR was waiting to take delivery of 3,500 tonnes of fuel tomorrow at Tema Port, 58 tankers have returned from Lome, Togo, with fuel. He gave the assurance TOR is again expecting 5,000 tonnes of fuel by December 15, and 30,000 tonnes each on December 19 and 24, adding 'We have 1,600 tonnes at Takoradi Port, awaiting delivery". The Chief Executive pleaded with newsmen to check their facts with his company so that their stories do not create any panic, saying such wrong reports about fuel shortage which are speculative "Can create confusion, leading to drivers filling their tanks while others would store fuel in drums".

Gri.