NATIONAL PETROLEUM (NP) and United Independent Petroleum Marketing Co Ltd (UNIPET) yesterday issued public advisories insisting that there was no shortage of fuel. 

NP stated yesterday that its facilities at the Pointe-a-Pierre Bond and Sea Lots were fully operational.

"Deliveries of fuel throughout the service station network have been regularised and operations have returned to normalcy," the release stated.

"We wish to reassure the public that there is presently no shortage of fuel at our service stations. However, in the event of any industrial action, NP will activate its contingency plan to ensure the timely delivery of fuel to our service station network," the company stated.

On Tuesday, UNIPET's chief executive officer Ronald Milford said the fuel shortage being alleged by Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) president general Ancel Roget was not accurate. 

Milford said that service stations were being regularly restocked with fuel.  

Since Sunday, motorists have been lining up at gas stations in south Trinidad to fill their gas tanks as word spread of anticipated strike action by workers at the State-owned Petrotrin refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre.

Roget said on Monday all Petrotrin operations were shut down by employees who began industrial action last Friday to protest unfilled vacancies; to

demand variable pay, and over concerns about the award of a bunkering contract.

However, Milford said Unipet tankers were receiving fuel and that motorists should stop panic-buying.

On Wednesday, a three-hour meeting with Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine, Petrotrin and OWTU officials ended with no resolution to the tensions involving the State-owned company.

Roget claimed the refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre was shut down, although the production fields were operational.

The OWTU president called on motorists to "fill up your gas tanks".