Most service stations across the country have received
significant amounts of fuel over the past week with daily allocations
increasing to at least five million litres of both diesel and petrol from the
usual 3,8 million.
This follows Treasury’s issuance of letters of credit that
have unlocked supplies which had been bonded at Msasa depot in Harare.
While queues of motorists seeking fuel have been the order
of the day, the release of the guarantees of payments has triggered movement of
petrol and diesel to service stations ahead of the Christmas holiday this week.
National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) board
chairperson Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said the fuel allocation, which
started last week, was expected to see the situation improve further during the week.
“On average, 3,8 million litres of both petrol and diesel
was being allocated to the market every day. However, we have increased that allocation
to five million and in some instances six million.
“We are cognisant of the fact that it is the festive season
and that people are travelling. Thus we are seized with improving the
situation,”he said.
A survey at service stations countrywide showed that most
had received both diesel and petrol ahead of the Christmas holiday.
In Harare, many fuel stations had the commodity, whilst in
Victoria Falls and Hwange there were few motorists queueing.
In Kwekwe, by midday yesterday, some service stations were
serving few motorists whilst in Masvingo and Mutare the situation had improved
significantly.
In Bindura service stations had started, mid-last week, to
receive petrol and diesel and in Chinhoyi outlets such as Total, Zuva and Glo
Petroleum had the product and no queues.
“We are also working with ZERA because the issue of fuel is
two-fold. First, it has to do with supply gap which we are trying to cover by
the increase and there is also the issue of fuel that is being diverted to the
black market,” said Engineer Mackenzie.
Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) acting chief
executive officer Mr Edmore Mazambani said the situation was set to improve due
to the issuance of letters of credit.
“The situation should be improving. I understand there are
some letters of credit which had expired but were recently renewed. Some
service stations have started getting fuel,” he said.
However the Indigenous Petroleum Association of Zimbabwe
(IPAZ) is not happy with the issuance of the letters of credit claiming they
had been availed to the big players at the expense of the small ones.
IPAZ chairperson Mr Aaron Chinhara said: “We, as IPAZ, have
the largest market share as we control and own over 50 percent of the fuel
service stations in the country. However, IPAZ members only get fuel when the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe makes an allocation once a month.
“We think those companies that receive the letters of
credit should consider selling some of their fuel to IPAZ members at wholesale
prices so that we stop the long queues.”
Zimbabwe has been facing fuel challenges because of foreign
currency shortages.
However, the situation has been exacerbated by some
unscrupulous dealers who divert fuel to the black market creating artificial
shortages. Sunday Mail
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