MORE THAN TWO MILLION SPENT ON UPLIFTING FIRE-RAVAGED FILLING STATION

After a heavy inferno destroyed Brikama’s Elton filling station in June, 2012, the Oil Company’s general manager disclosed that two million and six hundred thousand dalasi (D2.6M) have been spent to give it a facelift.

According to a source close to MarketPlace, Bakary Jammeh, the general manager of Elton
Oil Company, Gambia Ltd, has disclosed the damage done to the station during the fire incident was estimated at D2M, but it has cost his company D2.6M to mend the dent.

The fire damaged the Elton canopy and pumps and also spread to some shops in a neighbouring compound. The restoration process of the canopy has been completed while the restoration of the eight shops is ongoing.

Whilst he said that almost all works to have all equipments and material back in place have been completed, he added the “next step is to work with the Office of the Governor of the West Coast Region to compensate the owners of the eight shops that were also affected by the incident”.

The fence that separates the station from Sillah Kunda has been adjusted in order to withstand and contain any emergency, he added.

“That fence was a good containing factor to the fire not reaching Sillah Kunda.”
The incident that sparked a wave of panic in Brikama, occurred on the 7 June when fire broke out from an engine of a tanker truck that was discharging fuel. Many shops were destroyed.