Petrol warning meets surprise

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 2

Petrol warning meets surprise

PA Wellington •A Government warning tjjat petrol stocks might dry up on Easter Saturday has met with surprise in oil company circles. -Spokesmen for oil company head offices in WelItogton were unable to see where such a problem could occur. Atlantic Union Oil’s rjaction was that stocks were “not abnormally low” and "perfectly adequate” for the Easter week-end. -A spokesman for BP Oil said he could not see where tfte shortages would occur. •Caltex Oil reported that stocks were "not bad.” 1 “There is a ship in this week-end. and so we are all rijtht." a spokesman said. .There was speculation within the Ministry of Energy that oil companies might be playing down the real situation to prevent a rush after predictions of a shortage. .A Ministry’ spokesman said that predictions of a shortage were not new. The Minister had been warning of the possibility for months but the danger could have decreased marginally over the last few days, he said. 'With port stocks down to 13; days supply there was always a possibility of a shortage because tankers could not service all ports fast enough to build up local stocks. “I am not saying that it is going to happen,” the Ministry spokesman said. “We just run the risk. I can only assume that if there is a very heavy consumption Thursday and on Easter Saturday, there could be shortages?’