Muscat: The spectre of fuel shortage that troubled residents in southern and central Oman last Eid holidays seems to have returned to haunt them ahead of this year’s long Eid Al Adha holiday.
Motorists were seen rushing to petrol stations as word spread like wild fire that fuel, especially super quality, was not available.
An unprecedented rush to Salalah during last Eid Al Fitr had created fuel shortage, especially in Haima in central Oman and in Salalah town.
“I went to Al Maha filling station in Ghala suburb this morning but was turned back,” Vinay Ashar, Muscat resident for three decades, told Gulf News. After a few phone calls, he found petrol at a Shell Filling Station in the same area.
“Yes we have had shortage of fuel supply for the last couple of days and on Wednesday, we ran out of Super quality petrol,” a petrol station attendant in Ruwi area told Gulf News.
As motorists drove from one end to another end of town, long queues were seen at filling station where fuel was available.
An employee of a leading contracting company said that one of their transport contractors had expressed inability to continue supply as diesel was not available to ply their transport vehicles.
“We dread to think what would happen during holidays as we work on time-bound projects,” he added.
“For the time being fuel is available but one has to hunt for the filling stations around the town before getting the vehicle tanks full,” another longtime resident said.
When contacted a Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) spokesperson said that they have no issues with their supplies or storage.
According to a reliable source, the supply shortage was from Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic), who are the main suppliers for the all three retail vendors – Oman Oil, Shell, and Al Maha.
Thursday being a weekend, no one was available to comment from Orpic.
