STO controls sale of diesel following delayed shipment

The State Trading Organisation (STO) has controlled the sale of diesel due to a delay in the arrival of a shipment from abroad.

Managing Director of STO Shahid Ali said that there is enough oil in stock for groups that buy oil on a regular basis, but the sale of oil to other groups has been controlled.

“This is a common problem. But there is enough oil in stock for STELCO and all the resorts, who buy oil on a regular basis. It is only the sale of oil to other groups that has been controlled,” he said.

He said that the sale of oil to other groups has been controlled only temporarily, and that the oil shipment is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

Managing Director of Fuel Supply Maldives Adam Saleem said that Fuel Supply Maldives has also controlled the supply of diesel, following STO’s control of sale of diesel.

“We have rationed the sale of diesel to resorts. We have faced this problem before as well, but this time the delay has been prolonged,” he said.

Saleem said that petrol is available without any problem.

Another company supplying oil said that they have also controlled the sale of oil to resorts and fishermen, following STO’s control of sale of diesel.

“Fishermen are facing problems because of this, and resorts are also complaining about running out of stock. But we have informed them that we can only send as much as we receive. We have faced this problem before as well. But it’s never taken this long. STO has said that the shipment will arrive very soon,” said an official of the company.