Mariam Williams
There is a good news for motorists and other fuel users in the Central River Region (CRR), as Techworld Oil Company recently inaugurated a new petrol station worth over 2 million dalasis in Fula Bantang village of the said region.
Mr. Dodou D. Touray is the Operations Manager at Techworld Oil Company, and he pointed out that the company has created employment for over 300 Gambian citizens and non-citizens.
He recounted that, since the coming of Techworld Oil Company into the industry ten (10) years ago, they have started as a very small-scale company that had undergone through some rough and smooth moments, but “gradually expanding and expanding with some degree of perseverance, dedication and commitment to reach where we are today”.
The operations chief also told his audience: “I am proud to inform you that we have now reached to about 15 service stations in operations and few more under construction throughout the country”. He added that the new service station employs 10 young Gambians, eight of whom serve as pump attendants.
Manager Touray explained that there are 34 communities within the area which either go to Brikama-Ba or Bansang for fuel, noting that the opening of the new service station at Fula Bantang would make life easier for them. He informed that communities within Casamance also used to fuel [their vehicles/moto-bikes] at Brikama-Ba but they could now fuel at Fula Bantang-which is closer to them.
The Techworld senior official said among the reasons for establishing the service station at Fula Bantang was because they received complaints that “barrel fuel trading” within the area does not sell good fuel.
He reasoned that they built the petrol station in Fula Bantang because its location is a good business catchment area, adding that it also created employment as those who were contracted for the construction were from that area.
Touray believes the establishment of that service station would encourage other investors to invest in the area, as he pointed out that both CRR North and South do not have a bank except Reliance Financial Services.
