Gas Station Owners Vow Unlimited Strike Over Scarcity

The Union of Fuel Distribution Entrepreneurs vowed to launch a general strike over the gasoline stations nationwide, to protest the drop of revenues regarding the deficit of fuel, lubricant and gas bottles.

The supply deficit was provoked when the state run company in charge of distributing petroleum-based fuels for domestic consumption NAFTAL has closed, for maintenance, both Algiers and Arzew refineries, while the refinery of Skikda failed to meet the increasing demand. 

The interim head of the union, Samir Laribi, told Echorouk reporter that the gas stations located in the western and southern regions of the country have been suffering heavy deficit in terms of supply of petroleum-based fuels and natural gas bottles, causing them heavy losses. 

“What should the stations sell? Does NAFTAL want us to go bankrupt and fire the workers? Why the government is still unable to reopen the refinery of Adrar, closed over a dispute with the foreign partner?” wondered Mr Laribi.

“A strike is an inevitable way to take, as the executive bureau of the union is to hold an emergency meeting to notice an unlimited nationwide strike in all gas stations,” vowed the activist, adding “Yet, here we are inviting the authorities for dialogue to save the gas stations from bankruptcy, as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, several provinces in the west, east and south of Algeria have been hit by scarcity of petroleum based fuels, including petrol and fuel, provoking endless lines of cars before the gas pump stations.

An official at the petroleum based fuels store in El Eulma, told Echorouk reporter that such a scarcity is due to the bad weather conditions which hamper fuel-tank ships from debarking from Skikda and Bejaia ports to carry the substance to the western region of the country.