By Seraj Essul.
Tripoli, 9 December 2013:
The backlog of Tripoli motorists clamouring for fuel will be tackled by selected filling stations staying . . .[restrict]open, under Interior Ministry supervision, for 24 hours a day, the prime minister’s office announced this afternoon.
The presence of Interior Ministry personnel during this emergency measure is a response to outbreaks of violence at stations. Fathi Al-Hashmi, a spokesman for Brega Oil and Marketing, from which garage owners collect their fuel, told the Libya Herald: “In the past three days at least five stations have been attacked. And people have come with guns and taken fuel”.
Some 16 garages are believed to have been closed by managers, through fear of further violence, adding to the press of motorists on the remaining stations. Tempers have frequently frayed and there are unconfirmed reports that at least one person has been killed in violence.
Hashmi said that there was no shortage of either petrol or diesel. Brega’s 12 tanks at its depot on Tripoli’s Airport Road were full and were receiving product by pipeline from the Zawia refinery.
The stations that will be opening around the clock are, Gergaresh (two forecourts), Ben Ashour, Alfallah, Saidi Street, Almanshya, Alghiran, Swanni Road (two forecourts), Gumhoria Street, Al-Quds Square, Zawiat Adahmany, Bab Ben Gashir and Al-Mansoura.
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