Fuel shortage in central Mozambique at breaking point – Deutsche Welle

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Fuel shortage in central Mozambique at breaking point – Deutsche Welle

11:58 CAT | 07 Feb 2017

According to a press release issued by the Mozambican state Imopetro, “Gasoline supply is normalizing in the central zone with the discharge of the product in Beira, Sofala province on 4 February, and the situation will be normalized in the northern zone as of Tuesday 7 February with the planned discharge of gasoline in the port of Nacala”.

Maputo, Sofala and Nampula provinces have been affected by fuel shortages since late January, a problem that is still felt in Tete and Zambezia.

default — Drivers queued at Chimoio’s at the only gas station which still had fuel

The government has responded to speculation about lack of funds by insisting the situation is the result of “logistical problems”.

Motorists concentrated on the only Chimoio gas station that still had some fuel on Monday, with long queues of cars forming. Public transport has ground to a halt, causing chaos in the region.

Some gas stations have been shut down for almost two weeks and DW Africa has been unable to establish when they will resume operations.

“Our activities are at a standstill, and this is how we have to survive,” motorcycle taxi driver Ezequiel Joaquim, unable to work for lack of fuel, lamented.

“The lack of fuel is affecting a lot of people. Some vehicles here in the taxi rank have no fuel,” Victor Raúl added. He says that he sees fuel tankers on National Highway 6 every day, but doesn’t know where the fuel is going.

Solution in sight?

Some motorists have been forced to travel to the neighbouring districts of Vanduzi and Gondola, where the petrol stations still have some gasoline to sell. Others are buying fuel elsewhere and reselling locally at high prices.

The director of Mineral Resources and Energy in Manica province acknowledges the problem. “We still face some problems in gasoline logistics,” said João de Lima. He hopes to see the problem abate in the coming days. “The information I have indicates that we expect to receive some gasoline shipments specifically.”

Source: Deutsche Welle