ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Jet fuel rations to continue next week

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Sep 2017, 2:33PM
Auckland Council says it's looking at taking steps to give tankers easier routes through traffic (Getty)
Auckland Council says it's looking at taking steps to give tankers easier routes through traffic (Getty)

Jet fuel rations to continue next week

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Sep 2017, 2:33PM

Airlines in Auckland will continue operating with limited fuel supplies as rationing is expected to continue through until next week, disrupting thousands more travellers.

The companies have been operating with only 30 per cent of their normal supplies since a pipeline carrying jet fuel to the airport from a refinery in Marsden Point in Northland was damaged last Thursday.

This rationing was proving effective and the fuel industry did not as yet foresee a need to further tighten supplies, a Mobil Oil spokesman said on behalf of the industry.

"The decision has been made to retain that 30 per cent allocation until next Thursday," he said.

However, he said the industry would monitor and adjust supplies as needed.

It comes as rationed supplies continue to disrupt airline services, but are yet to have a major impact on Auckland's supply of car fuel.

Having cancelled 30 domestic and trans-Tasman flights since Sunday, Air New Zealand says three thousand more travellers will be affected by cancellations on Wednesday and six thousand more by schedule changes.

These include five Australian services, two Fiji services and a return service to Vietnam.

Jetstar has also cancelled a handful of domestic flights.

The damage to the pipeline from the Marsden Point refinery is believed to have been caused by a digger.

The line has been shut down temporarily, with Refining NZ saying repairs are on track and deliveries expected to resume to its Wiri storage depot between Sunday and Tuesday.

Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins announced an industry-government group has been set up to oversee the supply restoration.

It includes oil companies, Air New Zealand, Auckland Transport, the Defence Force, and government departments.

That's in addition to assistance from the Defence Force in delivering fuel around the country and a call for civil servants to delay non-essential flights.

Meanwhile, Auckland Council says it's looking at taking steps to give tankers easier routes through traffic with controlled traffic lights and bus lanes if needed.

Mayor Phil Goff said he's been given assurances the city won't run out of car fuel with Mobil Oil NZ manager Andrew McNaught, speaking for the fuel industry, saying supplies are healthy.

He further stated that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in and around the city, despite some stations on Tuesday reporting being out of premium fuel as they prioritised 91 and diesel.

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you