Oilink hosts plant tour, maintains difference from Unioil
October 28, 2008
MARIVELES,
Asked of allegations that Oilink and Unioil are one, Lawyer Ray–mond Zorilla answered that it has no basis. "Habang walang deklarasyon ang korte na ang dalawang kumpanya ay iisa, hindi dapat sirain ang pagiging magkaiba nito," Oilink's legal department head said.
Arnel Tanda, the firm's operations manager, declared that Unioil is just one of their clients.
Aside from Unioil, Zorilla said two airline companies, one food conglomerate and some other oil firms lacking in facilities avail of Oilink's storage tanks in the 80,000-square meter terminal.
At the oil depot near the sea are 21 vertical storage tanks that can hold one million barrels of oil products or the equivalent of 159 million liters. Among the petroleum products handled in the oil storage are unleaded gasoline (mogas), diesel (gasoil), kerosene and some asphalt.
As for the purpose of the plant tour, the chief legal counsel said they just wanted to make it known that Oilink being the leading independent oil player in the country has worldclass facilities.
Zorilla made it clear that they do not maintain gas stations but that they are engaged into storage, trading and marketing of various fuels that Oilink imports.
"Welcome Guests," read the streamer hung at the closed terminal gate that on October 13, operatives of the Presidential Anti Smuggling Task Force (PASG) climbed and forcibly opened during a raid "to prevent illegal withdrawal of petroleum products."
The lawyer said they have filed a civil case for injunction against the PASG but refused to further comment so as not to violate the rule on subjudice.
After the Oilink Bataan Terminal Walkthrough Briefing, the tour participants composed of media-men and some employees passed by giant trucks known as oil tankers waiting for its turn to be loaded with petroleum products at the loading bay.
Coming into full view were huge storage tanks of different sizes and giant pipelines and oil valves almost in the middle of the sea where vessels unload and load petroleum products. A tank at the facility has the capacity to store 19,580.178 liters of diesel.
Ernie B. Esconde
Manila Times