External factors hamper Shell's plan to open outlets: Huzani

Chennai, Oct 12 (UNI) Shell India Marketing Pvt Ltd's (SIMPL) Retail General Manager Shiran Huzani today said that due to certain external factors only 17 outlets could be opened since getting a marketing licence in July 2004 to open 2,000 outlets across the country.

Addressing a press conference here, after inaugurating company's sixth retail outlet in the city, Mr Huzani said the petroleum products to Shell's retail outlets in Chennai came from Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemcials Ltd (MRPL).

As volumes grew the Shell would consider setting up storage facilities in Tamil Nadu, he added.

About Reliance and Essar opening hundreds of outlets, Mr Huzani said both the companies got their licence to open retail outlets two years before Shell got and added "I do not want to make a comparision".

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