TOR FIGHTS PREMIX CANKER (BACK PAGE, MARCH 9, 2010)

The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) says it will not allow trucks without the ‘Premix Fuel’ inscription on them to load fuel at the refinery from March 15, 2010.
According to the Acting Managing Director of TOR , Dr Kwame Ampofo, only trucks with the inscription would be allowed to load to prevent diversions and adulteration.
“Only branded trucks with the inscription Premix would be allowed to load from the refinery,” he stressed.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic concerning reactions to diversions and adulteration of the premix product, which is solely meant for the fishing industry , Dr Ampofo said this information had been communicated to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) registered to lift premix fuel from the refinery long before the recent incident of adulteration occurred .
He explained that trucks meant to lift premix fuel could not be engaged in the lifting of other petroleum products because of fear of adulteration as a result of leftover of previous products in the tanks.
Dr Ampofo stated that the refinery had to rely on the request of specific quantity from the National Premix Committee for supply to the OMCs before distribution to the fishermen.
He said TOR currently turned out 80 trucks of premix oil every week with one truck containing 13,500 litres of the product .
Dr Ampofo said recent incidents of adulteration of petrol with premix fuel would not have been detected if the colour had not changed to blue.
He observed that the problem of tracing the movement of the premix trucks would be solved if the branding of the trucks was made conspicuous to the public.
Dr Ampofo cautioned the OMCs to ensure that they observed the date to avoid any embarrassment from the refinery loading point.
He gave the assurance that the refinery was gearing up to start production on its maximum scale and did not envisage any shortage of the product.