By Mada Augustine Ngombu
Despite a statement from the Petroleum Regulatory Agency that there was enough stock of petrol coming into the country, long queues continued over the weekend at fuel stations in various parts of the country. Pump attendants at some fuel stations were conspicuously absent.
Drivers and commercial bike and rickshaw (keke) riders complained of difficulties in accessing petro at Gas Stations with many having to resort to buying a litre of petrol at 35 Leones at black market. The official price of petrol and diesel is 21 Leones per litre.
Speaking to Politico, Mohamed Bayoh, a taxi cab driver and a father of 5 claimed he’d spent countless hours in the queue just to buy fuel so that he can be able to work.
He said it’s better to know once and for all whether petroleum price will go up or not, as the current fuel crisis is very frustrating.
Bayoh who was of the view that fuel is being hoarded said his source of livelihood and the welfare of his family remain under serious challenge.
Lahai Macavoray, a bike rider explained to Politico that the present issue of fuel scarcity has been going on for days with no certainty as to when it will end.
He added that the situation is unbearable as it is difficult for him to make money as well satisfy his customers.
“When petrol is hard to get, and I manage to buy 3 or4 litres, I am forced to charge my customers more’’, he admitted.
Israel Kamara, a rickshaw (keke) rider and father of 2 said the fuel crisis is affecting them all as well as passengers.He said after spending long hours in the queue, they end buying at very high black-market price.
He also said some passengers decide to walk because they can’t afford to pay the astronomical fare charged, and that the fuel crisis is affecting everyone.
Kamara said prior to the high cost of fuel, things were reasonable as he made sufficient amount of money in a day, but now if he bought 5 or 8 litres of fuel there will not be enough left for him to support his family.
A student Zainab George told Politico that the transport situation is difficult and getting worse every day. She claims spending more than 30 Leones a day on transportation alone.
The National Petroleum issued a public notice on the 12th December 2022 stating that the NP has bulk of petrol avaliable in the country, with Leonoil having a smaller quantity.
The notice also stated a NP vessel had arrived in the country with over 18 thousand metric tons of diesel, and there was also vessel containing petrol due before the end of last week with over 12 thousand metric tons.
The NP statement also confirmed that the company with some support from Leonoil for 10 days has been supplying the market with petroleum products and that a significant quantity of fuel a vessel will be bringing in will serve the country until mid-January.
Copyright © 2022 Politico (19/12/22)
