Caltex Media Update – Diesel

30 May 2001

This media update will be issued periodically to update media on the diesel supply situation.

Please direct media enquiries related to Caltex NZ on the diesel issue to 021 375 581. Please leave a message if the phone is unattended. We will get back to you as soon as it is possible to do so. Media inquiries on other issues eg fuel pricing cannot be dealt with on this number. Please use your normal contacts in these instances. Thankyou.

The Caltex media spokesperson on the diesel issue is Peter Hazael, Caltex Commercial Manager. Peter is also extremely busy dealing with the supply of diesel to all Caltex customers, for which he is largely responsible. He may not always be able to return calls promptly because of this. We ask for your patience.

The media enquiries number will try to assist you with inquiries on a background basis.

Key points for 30 May:

Marine/commercial fishing

One of our top priorities for clean diesel is the commercial fishing fleet, initially in the North Island East Coast ports of Napier, Gisborne and Mt Maunganui where the blue fin fleets are located, as well as emergency services.

Port of Napier

As at 1200 hrs today Caltex had debunkered 17 fishing vessels who are Caltex customers at the Port of Napier and refilled them with clean diesel. This operation commenced at 3pm on Wednesday 29 May and continued through the night until 0400 hrs. The operation resumed at first light today. At 1200 today 15 vessels who are Caltex customers were still to be given clean fuel. Caltex expects that all these will be refueled by late tonight.

Insurers are requiring that their customers validate the absence of diesel with the additive problem before they will provide cover for normal fishing operations. Because of this, we are requiring all customers to sign documentation that they have witnessed their tanks being fully emptied. We will not supply clean fuel if this is not done.

There is a small number of other customers at the Port who are not Caltex customers. Our policy is that our customers will be supplied first on a nationwide basis. We will supply other company customers, provided that company or their customer meets normal commercial agency payment terms. In other words, normal industry practice regarding ‘hospitality’ applies.
- Caltex media update 30 May - page two of two

Gisborne

We began debunkering/refuelling at Gisborne this morning for the 15 boats there who are Caltex customers. We have encountered some customer frustration due to the time spent tied up. We are dealing with this as best we can.

Other ports

Caltex is trucking fuel from Lyttleton where clean fuel was delivered for all oil companies by coastal tanker yesterday. We are trucking to marinas that our commercial marine customers (eg Whale Watch) use in Kaikoura, as well as Nelson. It may take several days yet however as storage needs to be found for debunkered fuel first.

Other Marine

We are making arrangements to get clean diesel to the NZ Coast Guard, a Caltex customer. We are working to finalise these arrangements as quickly as possible in order to start the process of getting clean fuel in their diesel-powered vessels (not all the Coast Guard’s vessels are diesel).

We will regrettably not be in a position to supply recreational boaties for some time. This is because of the priority for commercial fishing as well as charter/tourist vessels and emergency services such as the Coast Guard.

We have had reports from some of our retailers of boaties attempting to fill their vessels at service stations. Our policy is not to supply them with fuel that contains the additive because of safety concerns at sea.

Future marine customer supply

We are working on a policy for prioritising other marine customers for clean fuel once we have successfully supplied the commercial marine sector and emergency services.

Bulk Supply

We continue, by agreement with other oil companies, to co-operate fully on sharing out clean fuel at ports when it arrives by coastal tanker from the Marsden Point Refinery. Shares are allocated on a market share basis by Silver Fern Shipping. It is then up to each individual company to get product to its customers.

We are also co-operating with other companies to store diesel that contains the problem additive pumped from marine vessels.

ENDS

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