Petrotrin shutdown sparks panic buying

FOR the second day yesterday refinery operators at State-owned Petrotrin refused to go back to work, causing a total shutdown of the refinery and triggering panic buying at gas stations throughout the country. In a release yesterday, Petrotrin officials said the company has stocks to last for some time. Workers downed tools on Saturday forcing a total shutdown of the refinery, which is responsible for processing crude oil. The workers have listed ten points of contention, accusing Petrotrin’s management of dragging its feet in ratifying increased allowances and other benefits. Yesterday, the workers’ representative, the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) met with company officials for an all-day round the table discussion. The meeting started at around 10 am and up to late yesterday it was still in progress at the company’s Pointe-a-Pierre offices.

A Petrotrin source told Newsday six of the ten issues were settled. It is expected that discussions will continue this morning. The refinery shutdown is also expected to continue. If the workers return to work, however, it will take the next three days for the refinery processing units to get started again. Petrotrin officials said the company’s deadline for processing crude from its external market source was not yet affected by the shutdown. “There is no need for panic buying. There are adequate reserves but we hope the negotiations will see the resumption of work soon,” the company stated in a release.