Epileptic Power Supply Pushes Kerosene Price Higher

Alleged artificial scarcity
of Kerosene has pushed the price of the product up from N90.00 per bottle to N140 at the retailers’ table.
Some retail dealers of the product who spoke to The  Tide in Port Harcourt, Friday, accussed member of the independent Marketers of frustrating the free flow of the product at both Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
“Today a litre of the product has jumped from N98.00 to N130.00,” said a Port Harcourt dealer who pleaded anonymity.
The lady dealer explained that the Independent Marketers who are mounting influence on the supply of the product at both refineries would not allow both refineries to supply simultenously as expected, thereby causing artificial scarcity.
“If the Warri Refinery is supplying, the cartel makes sure Port Harcourt Refinery does not and vice versa,”  she disclosed.
Collaborating his colleague, another dealer, who identified himself simply as Mr Johnson said the cartel in the independent marketers appear to be collaborating with some insiders in the two refineries and appealed to the federal government to investigate the scarcity situation for the interest of the masses which should override  that of a clique in the independent marketers fold.
Ms Blessing Ajoku, a mother of two told The Tide that price of the product has been on steady rise in Port Harcourt.
Three weeks ago, we were buying N110.00 from retailers but it had continued to add N10.00, N20.00 and today buy N140.00 and at some places they charge N150.00.
She regretted that the unchecked situation has brought hardship on the masses. Ajoku described it as a shame that in Rivers State where much of the petroleum products come from suffer such a plight and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to come to the rescue of the masses.
Some petrol station attendants who spoke to our correspondent in Aba Road and Ikwerre Road said their problem was not that of price but getting the supply.
“For over two months, we have not sold a litre of Kerosene here because we don’t get supply,” said one of the attendants.

Chris Oluoh