The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) says it has begun efforts to persuade Star Oil to return to the Association following the company’s decision to suspend its membership.
A source within the Chamber told JoyBusiness that informal discussions are already underway and could help address the concerns raised by Star Oil. The source added that there is optimism the market leader may reconsider its decision in the coming days after these engagements.
Meanwhile, COMAC is scheduled to hold an emergency board meeting today, Thursday, January 22, 2026, to agree on a unified position on the Petroleum Price Floor Programme. The meeting comes at a time when the Association is divided, with some members supporting the policy and others opposing it.
Star Oil’s decision to suspend its membership is also expected to feature prominently on the agenda, as the company has expressed dissatisfaction with how the Chamber has handled the ongoing debate on the fuel price floor.
Speaking to JoyBusiness, COMAC Chairman, Gabriel Kumi, said the Association remains confident that a resolution acceptable to all members will be reached. He expressed optimism that the Chamber would emerge united from the discussions, noting that it has previously overcome even more challenging issues without losing cohesion.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Star Oil announced its indefinite suspension from COMAC in a letter to the Association. The company said the decision was taken after careful consideration.
Star Oil, which described itself as a long-standing and active member of COMAC and its largest financial contributor, said it had always supported the Chamber’s operations and advocacy work. The company explained that its membership was based on the expectation of fair representation and the accommodation of diverse but constructive views on policy and regulatory matters.
However, it said recent developments had undermined this principle, forcing it to reconsider its continued association with the Chamber. The disagreement centres on COMAC’s public position on the petroleum price floor, a policy issue that has sparked intense debate within the downstream petroleum sector.
Source: joynews
