Bulk LPG transporters strike: oil marketing companies continue to manage supplies in State

Despite the Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners Association halting operations for the fourth day on Monday, State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) said there was no disruption in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to consumers in the State.

“Around 25% of the bulk trucks are running. Deliveries took place even on Sunday. The state government is also aware of the strike. There is no need to panic as all three OMCs have sufficient stock,” said a senior official of OMC.

A senior official from the oil industry said that the transporters’ strike was illegal and they appealed to the Supreme Court. “We met with them when they went on strike in March-April, agreed on the terms and only after that the last tender was floated. Now they want the old tender to continue, which also cannot be called. This tender is not limited to a single state, it is valid for the whole country. It will have greater impact.”

Association president K. Sunderraj said that the members did not go on strike, they just stopped working because their contract period had expired. He said owners of small single trucks were affected by a particular tender condition, adding: “We cannot tolerate this by keeping the silence of spectators.”

Meanwhile, one distributor said his backlog remained at three to four days and he was only able to receive half of the required loads. “We are managing supplies with what we have. As of now, there is no panic booking from consumers,” Mr. Sunderraj added.