NP: Safe to use gas once again

In a media release yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP) stated the company was aware of reports of fuel being contaminated with water at a few service stations. “NP wishes to assure the public that this is a contained situation and that NP remains committed to ensuring that its investigations and analysis of the matter are concluded as quickly as possible. Any issues identified will be addressed expeditiously,” the NP release stated.

Petroleum Dealers Association president Robindranath Naraynsingh said the situation had been normalised and expressed the hope that NOP would accept responsibility for the incident.

“Everything back to normal, fuel that was delivered to a number of service stations was contaminated fuel and we hope they will take responsibility for what happened,” he said, adding that the eight stations were not isolated to one part of Trinidad but was across the country including Maraval, Curepe, Piarco, Carenage, Chaguanas, Couva, Biche and D’Abadie. Naraynsingh said the stations were equipped with a filtration system at the pumps and “when water hits the filtration system, it is supposed to shut down the pumps and that is what will happened so people wouldn’t really get water in the fuel.” But sometimes mistakes happen, he said, adding it is a simple problem...gas and water doesn’t mix so what NP does at the gas stations, they would pump out the water from the tanks to ensure people get proper fuel for their vehicles.

Naraynsingh also reiterated his call for the Ministry of Energy to issue licenses to the petroleum dealers as they were presently operating without a license for the past five years.

He also blamed the small profit margin for the dilapidated condition at many service stations saying dealers were making less than five percent profit from the sale of petroleum products