Rumours of an impending fuel shortage are unfounded, according to RUBiS Energy Bermuda.

The company said claims a fuel tanker had been diverted away from the Island due to Hurricane Gonzalo were incorrect.

“We can confirm that RUBiS Energy Bermuda does not have any fuel tankers scheduled to arrive in Bermuda at this time and certainly none have been diverted away from the Island,” said sales manager Jermaine Simons. “RUBiS Energy Bermuda has sufficient inventory to replenish the needs of our valued customers during this period of high demand.”

Mr Simons said fuel sales surged after a Hurricane Watch had been issued and that customers should expect longer than normal waiting times at gas stations.

“We encourage everyone to exercise patience during this time,” he added.

RUBiS said their hurricane contingency plan had been enacted to ensure all their stations had enough supplies.

“With our Demand Monitoring System, we encourage customers to fill up early during the Hurricane Watch period, which allows us to understand demand and to replenish stations in the short time frame available before any storm hits,” Mr Simons said. “Our distribution fleet has been working 15-hour days this week to meet this demand and we would like to publicly thank them for their hard work and dedication.

“It is important to practice safety when handling fuel, especially when using portable containers. If using a container for gasoline, we advise that customers use only approved containers.

“It is not wise to store gasoline in a glass container, or a plastic container that is not rated for gasoline storage. Please do not use your car as storage for your container.

“Containers should be kept out of direct sunlight and in a ventilated environment.”

For more safety tips, visit www.rubis-bermuda.com

Updates on which stations will be open over the weekend will be available on RUBiS’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RUBiSBermuda