Shell increases purchase cap to $50

– Four Mobil stations open up for first responders, essential services only
– Water companies hindered from delivering water due to low fuel

IP&E’s Shell Stations have increased the purchasing cap on fuel to $50, while Mobil Saipan have yet to open their filling stations for residents.

Mobil Saipan will be opening four of its service stations only for first responders and vehicles required for essential services to refuel yesterday, Aug. 5.

The four locations for Mobil are Susupe, Chalan Kiya, Middle Road, and Koblerville from 3pm to 8pm, according to a Mobil Oil Marianas Islands, Inc. statement yesterday.

Four Shell service stations are now open for residents while one will be open for government official emergency vehicles only.

The four locations that are open to residents are Shell Puerto Rico, Gualo Rai, Highway Express, and Shell Airport from 8am to 7pm.

Shell Puerto Rico, Gualo Rai, and Highway Express both provide V-Power and diesel, while only V-Power is available at the Shell Airport.

Shell Koblerville is open to government official emergency vehicles only.

IP&E’s marketing manager Camille Denight said they increased the cap from $20 to $50 to alleviate the long lines that residents face when refueling their cars.

“It was around noon today [Aug. 4] that we increased it up to $50 and have made Shell Koblerville available for first responders only,” Denight said.

Denight noted that they are trying to send representatives from IP&E in Guam to Saipan to survey the situation and try to get the other service stations back up and alleviate the long lines.

“We are working with the government to make sure and take care of the areas that are essential for fuel…the representatives will be checking the service stations to make sure it is safe and hopefully get it ready to make more areas available,” she said.

Shell stations are working with the Department of Public Works and the CNMI Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide assistance in stabilizing the island as safely and quickly as possible.

IP&E employees are working diligently to provide services at all other stations.

“Safety is paramount, especially during times like these. Our priority right now is supporting the recovery efforts [on] Saipan by supplying all authorities and crews that are working to secure the island during this time of emergency. We look forward to returning to normal operations for the rest of the island,” IP&E Holdings managing director Brian Bamba said.

As for Mobil, they urged all other motorists to hold off any refueling in the meantime.

According to a Mobil statement, they have sufficient stock of fuel on Saipan and are working with authorities to determine when it will be safe and appropriate to resume supply to its customers and the general public.

Water services

Several stores have ran out of water after hundreds of community members hit the stores to ration for the upcoming weeks.

Water companies have been hindered from delivering water due to low fuel. Saipan Water and Ice Co. is requesting community members to visit their office in Lower Base and get water there.

There isn’t any limit on how many gallons of water each customer wants to buy but they can’t deliver water because they are low on fuel and using the fuel for their machines to produce water.