50% petrol pumps report empty tanks

Day two of the strike by over 55,000 oil PSU executives left over 50 per cent of the country’s petrol pumps dry and affected power generation in government-owned power companies.

The oil company executives under the umbrella of the Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA) began their indefinite strike on Wednesday demanding higher wages.

Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum Corp have asked their employees in Maharashtra to report to work tomorrow as the government has invoked the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), which restrains workers from going on strike.

According to the Federation of All-India Petroleum Traders, over 50 per cent of the petrol pumps in the country have run out of fuel with CNG supply too getting affected. There are over 37,000 petrol pumps across the country.

“The problem manifested itself much quicker than expected because the petrol pumps were low on inventories in anticipation of fuel price cuts. The truckers’ strike, which entered its third day today along with the oilmen strike will increase the hardships of the common man,” said Krishan Kalra, secretary-general, PHD Chamber.

Refineries of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest refiner, operated below capacity due to the strike. Around 10,000 officers from IOC have gone on strike.

“Our refineries in Panipat, Gujarat and Haldia have suffered in terms of production. The Gujarat refinery is operating only at 25 per cent (capacity). However, if the strike continues, it could affect the fuel supply situation in the country,” said B N Bankapur, director (refineries), IOC.

On the marketing and distribution front, the company said its focus had been aviation sector where it managed to keep the supply constant with some delayed service.

Slow refuelling due to the strike delayed around 80 domestic flights at the Mumbai airport.

“There has been an average delay of 35 flights so far. We are monitoring the situation,” said Manish Kalghatgi, spokesperson for Mumbai International Airport Private Limited. Delhi, however, did not report any delay in flights.

IOC, a major supplier of aviation turbine fuel to airlines, has deployed the Territorial Army personnel along with senior management staff at the Delhi and Mumbai airports to supervise the refuelling work. The company, however, agreed that a few of its fuel retail outlets were out of supply.

BPCL said that while attendance at its offices was only 30 per cent, its refineries in Mumbai and Kochi were operational.

In Maharashtra, the 650-Mw Uran plant of the state-owned Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) was shut down. The state is already reeling under a power shortage of 4,500 Mw to 5,000 Mw, resulting in power cuts between 3 and 12 hours in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

The central government-owned Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Ltd’s (RGPPL) generation, which had dipped from 650 Mw to 300 Mw on Wednesday due to non-availability of gas, is now working at full capacity after RGPPL managed to source the gas from spot market on Thursday, said an official from the state-owned power distribution company, Mahadiscom.

So far, 17 gas-based urea plants have been shut down. “The strike is affecting production. This will lead to shortage of fertiliser and the country will have to import fertiliser to meet the domestic demand,” said Ajay Shriram, Chairman and Managing Director, Shriram Fertilizers and Chemicals.

Mahanagar Gas (MGL), on the other hand, has stopped the supply to the industrial, commercial and CNG segments in a phased manner, for ensuring supply to the domestic consumers. This has led to closure of over five restaurants in Mumbai with more shutdowns in the offing, said the Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Association of India. MGL sources gas from ONGC’s Mumbai High fields.