By Seraj Essul.
Tripoli, 18 July 2014:
Most Tripoli petrol stations have remained closed because of instability in the capital . . .[restrict]and petrol station owners fear outbreaks of violence during panic buying.
Spokesman for Al-Rahila petrol distribution company Mohamed Salah told the Libya Herald that he knew of only a few petrol stations that were operating following the closure of the Airport Road which began the shortage. The main Tripoli petrol depot in on the road.
The road is now partially open.
He said there were reserves at the petrol stations and most were able to open for business but that based on experiences of previous crises, their owners were refusing to do so without protection. He said without police and military in place, given the high demand, the stations “would become chaotic”. But if proper security was provided the situation could be resolved in a matter of days.
The spokesman for the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, Fathi Al-Dahoubi, said its Airport Road depot had reopened after a one-day closure. “There is enough fuel but no security”, he too complained.
Darhoubi said he knew of seven trucks carrying gas-cylinders which had made it into Tripoli but these had been protected by their own security. He said there was a meeting between Brega Management, NOC representatives and members of Tripoli Council over the crisis yesterday.
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