"That is all that we can give for now. We cannot give more than P1 per liter discount at this point," Shell external affairs general manager Roberto Kanapi said.
He noted that prices of crude oil at the world market remains volatile, pointing out that the benchmark Dubai crude has gone up by about $1.50 per barrel in the past two weeks as against the Feb. 2004 average.
"We cannot say if we will have a price increase for March. We still have to assess the market up to the end of this month. We are still looking at that," Kanapi said.
Shell is offering a P1 per liter discount on its diesel product in 50 retails stations nationwide, 19 of which are located in Metro Manila. The discount is available to all public transport groups such as jeepney and bus associations.
While the company is not giving any discount for gasoline, it decided to make available a gasoline formula – named Better Mileage – that would provide improved mileage with no extra cost to consumers.
The Philippines will be the ninth country within the Royal Shell Group’s market to benefit from this new formula. Last year, Shell launched this new reformulated gasoline in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. This formula was also made available in the US, Puerto Rico, Chile and Switzerland.
Shell general manager for retail sales and operations Samuel de Guzman said they have spent about $1.6 million for the research and development of this kind of formula.
"The formula is a result of exhaustive research and extensive field tests conducted at Shell’s laboratories in England, to ensure that the new product formulation meets the standards set to build up its better mileage benefit," de Guzman said.
He pointed out that the cost of developing such formula will not be passed on to the customers.
"We want to have added value to our products with no extra cost to our customers. This is part of our commitment to provide good quality products at reasonable cost," he added.
The new Shell ‘Better Mileage’ gasoline will provide improved engine efficiency by addressing the needs of the fuel system such as minimizing deposits, improving combustion and reducing friction.
"Proven to benefit vehicles of all types and ages including motorbikes and cars with fuel injection, catalytic converters or carbureted engines, the Better Mileage gasoline readily meets the growing demand for quality yet affordable fuel products that also offers more mileage," he said.