CHENNAI:
Oil Marketing Companies appealed to the agitating transporters to withdraw the agitation and continue their operations as committed and engaged channel partners.
It is very unfortunate that the Southern Region Bulk Transport Owners Association has decided to continue with the agitation of not placing trucks for loading at various refineries and import terminals. It is to be noted that the new tender has nothing to do with the existing contract which is valid till 30th April 2018.
Though flash strike was called by Eastern Region Bulk LPG Transporters’ Association & Southern Region Bulk Transport Owners Association on same day, i.e. with effect from 12.02.2018 morning, but strike was called off in Eastern Region on 13.02.2018 after noon. There was no strike in any other part of India. The tender modality has been accepted by all the Regions except Southern Region Bulk Transport Owners Association.
A statement from oil companies said that in order to finalise a new contract for a period of 5 years, an All India public tender has been floated by the oil marketing companies on 23rd of January 2018. Oil Marketing Companies have decided that this tender has to be floated on State wise basis with induction of State registered Tank Trucks (TTs) for LPG Bottling Plants (BPs) situated in State will promote local enterprising entrepreneurs based in that State and generating more employment for local people.
Avenues for entrepreneurs with small capital under “Standup India Scheme” of Government of India to promote the bidders under SC/ST category. Encourage more entrepreneurs so as to have healthy & better competition.
Transporter / Crew will be better acquainted with local eco-system and the operating conditions that will help in better utilization of TTs and lesser issues. State registered TTs operating in the same state can help in enhancing the revenue to the State, which may be productively utilized for Developing Emergency Response Squads, Improvement of Roads etc.
The modalities finalised by OMCs in this new tender were clarified to all the prospective bidders in the pre-bid meetings, which were conducted at various places including one at Chennai on 06.02.2018.
Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas are catering to the cooking gas needs of millions of consumers across the Country. For this purpose OMCs have set up LPG bottling plants in various parts of the country. Bulk LPG is transported from refineries/import terminals to these bottling plants through road tankers in addition to rail wagons and pipelines. Towards the same OMCs invite bids from transport owners and award contracts. The current contract for transportation of bulk LPG is valid till 30th April 2018. In the current contract about 20000 road tankers on all India basis have been engaged for the transportation of bulk LPG.
It may be noted that Oil Marketing Companies are taking great efforts to reach LPG across the state through various modes other than road transport, including tank wagon operations, and pipeline operations. Oil Marketing Companies are committed to serving the LPG customers with continued LPG supplies and various efforts are underway.
