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Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (3116)	11/12/2005 10:04:12 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 24206

BP defends delay in going public over fuel shortage As reserves of premium unleaded fuel dry up in Western Australia, petrol producer BP has defended its decision to delay telling motorists about the problem. BP supplies premium unleaded to more than 600 retailers state-wide but has been unable to produce the fuel since a mechanical fault occurred at its Kwinana refinery. The breakdown occurred two weeks ago but BP only went public yesterday. Company spokesman Peter Metcalfe says service stations are already starting to run out. "There's around about a dozen BP sites have run out completely and I think in all honesty that situation is likely to grow," he said. Mr Metcalfe has defended the time it took to alert the motoring public. He says the company was not sure at first whether it had an issue and, once the scale of the problem was realised, it tried unsuccessfully to source additional supplies from overseas. Motorists who can are being urged to switch to regular unleaded until supplies are restored - hopefully - by late this month. The Motor Trade Association says the fuel shortage shows there is a need to set up fuel reserves in Western Australia. The executive director of the association, Peter Fitzpatrick, says the Government should stockpile fuel to help deal with any future shortages. "We are very exposed with one refinery where you can have it break down or get some contamination, and I think that the Government, and I've asked them to do it, to look at it before, should have a strategic reserve set aside for just this sort of contingency," he said. abc.net.au