The Shenzhen Municipal Government has set up a group to manage the city's emergency fuel supply, according to the latest issue of the government gazette this week.

The group was established "to secure fuel (gasoline, diesel and generator-used oil) supply and social stability in Shenzhen." Its tasks are listed as "monitoring fuel supply in the market and its price changes, and coordinating relevant government departments and operating enterprises."

The group will be responsible for issuing warnings when the fuel supply is running short and meeting needs in case of an emergency.

A "short-supply alert" will be issued when fuel stock in the supply companies falls below 40 percent of the normal level. The alert will be canceled when the stock goes back above 40 percent.

With a "short-supply alert," the group will closely watch prices, hold a meeting within 48 hours of declaration of the alert and strive to buy fuel from various sources.

An "emergency alert" will be declared when the fuel stock falls below 20 percent of the normal level. It will be canceled when the stock rises back above 20 percent.

When an emergency status occurs, a meeting will be held within 12 hours of declaration of the alert to discuss counter-measures and the concerned companies will be required to report their stock to the group on a daily basis. Also, the city's gasoline stations will be allowed to ration their supply.

If neighboring cities hike their fuel prices and some of Shenzhen's gasoline stations have no supply at all, then the supply companies will be allowed to raise their prices in accordance with the country's relevant policies.

The group members come from the Shenzhen Municipal Trade and Industry Bureau, Shenzhen Municipal Administration of Industry and Commerce, which is also responsible for the city's pricing administration, and five fuel suppliers. Wang Min, deputy secretary general of the city government, will head the group.

(Shenzhen Daily March 10, 2005)