The Hindu Business Line : LPG tanker owners end BPCL boycott

THE LPG consumers could heave a sigh of relief with the bulk LPG tanker owners in the South deciding to end the boycott of transporting gas from BPCL installations with effect from this morning following protracted negotiations with the BPCL authorities in Chennai.

However, boycott of movement of HPCL's bulk LPG would continue as the talks HPCL had with tanker operators ended in a failure. IOC has remained unaffected since it had already reached a settlement with the tanker owners on the new transport rates.

The President of All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), Mr P. Sengodan, told Business Line from Chennai that though no conclusive agreement was reached during the talks with BPCL authorities, that began around 11.30 a.m. on Monday and continued up to 1.30 a.m. today, the Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners Association (SRBLPGTOA) decided to end the boycott of BPCL following an appeal by the latter.

He said the bulk LPG tanker operators wanted BPCL to match the increase agreed to by IOC — 8.5 per cent for the new contract period (2002-04) compared to the previous rate — but the latter explained that they would speak to their higher authorities and arrive at a mutually agreeable rate in the next two or three weeks.

Meanwhile BPCL wanted the operators to resume transport of BPCL bulk LPG in view of the fact that the strike had continued from November 27 for nearly three weeks. Initially BPCL was willing to offer only a 5 per cent increase in transportation rates, which was turned down by the transporters.

The discussions with BPCL officials was slated to be held on December 12 but was put off to December 16.

Mr Sengodan said the boycott of HPCL's bulk LPG would however continue as the talks held on December 12 ended in failure since the petroleum PSU was willing to offer an increase of 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent from what it had offered earlier — 2.5 per cent, that was turned down by the association.

He said the end to the boycott of BPCL bulk LPG came to effect from this morning itself. The IOC contracted the largest number of bulk LPG tankers in the South — nearly 2,400 vehicles — followed by BPCL that was served by about 750 vehicles and HPCL by around 650 vehicles.

He said the talks would continue with BPCL authorities for a final settlement. However HPCL has not indicated any fresh date for talks to end the boycott.

Apart from Mr Sengodan, the President of SRBLPGTOA (Namakkal), Mr Ponnambalam, was among those who took part in the talks.

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LPG tanker owners end BPCL boycott — No agreement with HPCL yet