No fuel on Tinian for 3.5 hours
Mobil gas stations on Tinian ran out of fuel yesterday for almost four hours, causing some customers to get upset as the island had many visitors for the inauguration of Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas.
Saipan Tribune learned that Tinian Fuel and SN Five, the only two gas stations on the island, stopped selling gasoline starting at 11am due to the lack of supply.
The two stations, however, resumed selling gasoline at 2:35pm after Mobil Oil Marianas Tinian plant delivered fuel.
Two Mobil Oil Tinian plant employees, who requested not be identified, explained that they failed to deliver fuel to the two stations on Monday because their manager went to Guam and the other staff was on Saipan.
The bad weather prevented the staff from going back immediately to Tinian.
The Mobil Tinian plant regularly delivers fuel to the two stations on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
A staff at Tinian Fuel in San Jose, Tinian, said he does not know why the plant did not deliver on Monday and that there were many customers yesterday.
“People got mad. They’re checking and calling from time to time. I’m tired of answering the phone,” the staff said in a phone interview at 2pm.
A Tinian businesswoman said the Mobil plant has fuel, but the person who was supposed to sign the papers for delivery went to Saipan and had a hard time coming back because of strong winds.
A gallon of regular gas on Tinian costs $5.22 on Tuesday and $5.07 yesterday.
When Saipan Tribune called Mobil Oil Mariana plant on Tinian at 2pm, a staff said they were preparing to deliver fuel to the gas stations within an hour.
Saipan Tribune learned that because of strong winds, the inauguration of Mayor San Nicolas was held at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino instead of at Kammer Beach. Many guests from Saipan also failed to attend because of bad weather. Saipan Tribune contacted San Nicolas for comment, but he had yet to reply as of press time.
Interesting that because one person is missing of island that the whole Mobil operation comes to a standstill.
So what was the crew at Mobile doing? Did they show up for work and just “hang out” getting paid? If they just close the terminal in these situations maybe they also could lower the fuel prices.
OR here is an idea, why isn’t there someone else appointed to be in charge in the absence of the terminal manager?
Also Singapore crude along with others continue to slide and other places pump prices also reflect it weekly.
Oh boy the manager in hot water.
It is also the new Mayor responsibility to know what he has and what he does not have on his island. Its called being prepared, what if there was typhoon not his inaugural ceremony, Police, Fire, and THC won’t have running generators or government vehicles to help the people of Tinian. I guess his to busy deciding what tie to wear on this special day. lol