The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has begun steps to engage Star Oil after the oil marketing firm suspended its membership from the Association, a move that has exposed internal divisions within the downstream petroleum sector.
Sources within COMAC told JoyBusiness that informal engagements with Star Oil have already started, with the aim of addressing the company’s concerns and encouraging it to return to the Chamber. According to the source, there is optimism that the discussions could yield results in the coming days, given Star Oil’s long-standing role within the Association.
The development comes ahead of an emergency COMAC board meeting scheduled for today, Thursday, January 22, 2026**, where members are expected to adopt a common position on the controversial **Petroleum Price Floor Programme**. The meeting has become necessary amid growing disagreements within the Chamber, with some oil marketing companies supporting the price floor policy and others strongly opposed to it.
Star Oil’s suspension is expected to feature prominently in the board discussions, as it is widely viewed as a direct response to how COMAC has handled the public debate on the fuel price floor.
Chairman of COMAC, Gabriel Kumi, confirmed that the Association is hopeful of resolving the matter and maintaining unity among its members.
“Definitely the Chamber will come out on a united front on this matter, and this issue will not divide us. We will come out stronger,” he said.
Mr. Kumi added that COMAC has faced more challenging situations in the past and has always managed to remain cohesive.
“We have dealt with more serious issues in the past, but we came out more united on those issues and others,” he stated.
Star Oil announced its indefinite suspension from COMAC on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in a formal letter addressed to the Association. The company said the decision was taken after careful consideration.
In the letter, Star Oil noted that it has been a long-standing and active member of COMAC and remains the Association’s largest financial contributor, consistently supporting its operations and advocacy efforts.
The company explained that its membership was founded on the expectation that COMAC would provide fair representation for all members and accommodate differing but constructive views on policy and regulatory matters within the petroleum sector.
However, Star Oil said recent developments within the Association had undermined these principles, forcing it to reassess its continued participation.
At the centre of the disagreement is COMAC’s public position on the Petroleum Price Floor Programme, a regulatory policy that has sparked intense debate within the downstream petroleum industry. Critics argue that the policy could distort competition and pricing, while supporters believe it is necessary to protect smaller players and ensure market stability.
Star Oil’s suspension has raised concerns about unity within the industry’s main advocacy body and has intensified calls for broader consultation and consensus-building among stakeholders.
As discussions continue, industry watchers will be closely monitoring whether COMAC’s engagements with Star Oil will succeed in restoring confidence and maintaining a unified front on key policy issues affecting the petroleum sector.
