In the interests of safety and environmental protection, nineteen Caltex service stations around Christchurch were closed yesterday for safety and integrity checks, following the earthquake.

“Our priority today is to restore fuel supplies to rescuers, volunteers and families,” said Caltex spokesperson Sharon Buckland.

“Caltex is returning stations to service as quickly as safely possible, based on preliminary visual inspections, checking of leak detectors and continuous monitoring of tank levels,” she said.

With Lyttleton Port out of commission, fuel supplies are being trucked into Christchurch from Timaru.

“We have sufficient back up stocks in Timaru, Dunedin and Nelson, so there will not be fuel shortages. However, there has already been some confusion among anxious motorists. Any panic buying causes “runs” on individual service stations, which could cause them to run out before the next delivery arrives, so we urge people to fill up only as they need to,” Ms Buckland said.

Caltex has donated a large number of fuel vouchers to emergency relief efforts, to assist people left homeless by the earthquake.

The following Caltex stations, located within an hour’s drive of Christchurch, have now been inspected and reopened:

Caltex Ashburton, Cnr East & Dobson Streets, Ashburton – OPEN: we’ve been advised it’s ok , new fuel arriving 2pm today
Caltex Hornby, 427 Main South Road, Hornby – OPEN: new fuel arriving at 2pm today
Caltex Russley, 2 Russley Road, Yaldhurst – OPEN: new fuel arriving at 2pm today
Caltex Rangiora, Cnr High & King Streets, Rangiora – OPEN: new fuel arriving at 2pm today
Caltex Bishopdale Service Station, 318 Harewood Road, Harewood – OPEN: we’ve been advised it’s ok, new fuel arriving tonight
Caltex Redwood, 315 Main North Road, Redwood – OPEN: we’ve been advised it’s ok, new fuel arriving tonight
Caltex Blenheim Road, 149 Blenheim Road, Middleton – OPEN: we’ve been advised it’s ok, new fuel arriving tomorrow
Caltex Kaiapoi, 169-171 Williams Street, Kaiapoi – OPEN but out of fuel, new fuel expected to arrive 2pm tomorrow

Caltex Mockett Motors, Mountain View Road, Culverden – OPEN: out of affected area, being resupplied out of Nelson

The following Caltex stations have not yet been cleared to reopen:

Caltex Avonhead, 202 Withells Road, Avonhead
Caltex Dyers Road, 241 Dyers Road, Bromley
Caltex Cranford Street, 500 Cranford Street, Papanui
Caltex Riccarton, 64-66 Riccarton Road, Riccarton
Caltex Lincoln Road, 55 Lincoln Road, Spreydon

For large diesel commercial vehicles, the following truck stops have now reopened:

Amberley Fuel Stop, State Highway One, Amberley
Ashburton Diesel Stop, 11-13 South Street, Ashburton
Parkhouse Fuel Stop, 2 Jipcho Road, Middleton
Woolston Diesel Stop, 30 Garlands Road, Woolston

The following diesel stop remains closed, pending safety checks:
Hornby Diesel Stop, 74078 Carmen Road, Hornby

ENDS

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