Government is taking adequate measures to ensure that the
country has enough fuel during the forthcoming Independence and Easter
holidays, a senior Government official has said.
Responding to concerns raised by the Hospitality
Association of Zimbabwe that the fuel shortages being experienced across
Zimbabwe would affect holiday travelling and hotel occupancy rates, Power and
Energy Development secretary Dr Gloria Magombo said Government was mindful of
the need to ensure fuel availability throughout the country during the
Independence and Easter holidays.
Dr Magombo said the high volume of travellers during the
holiday period meant more fuel would be required than would normally be the
case.
“Government, working with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, has
already put in place measures to ensure adequate fuel supplies so as not to
dampen the spirit of the holidays,” she said.
“Government has put in place foreign currency structures,
mainly in the form of Letters of Credit, for oil companies to procure fuel. For
some oil companies, such structures are already running, while for the rest of
the companies the structures will kick-start before the holidays set in.”
Dr Magombo said the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority
was also constantly monitoring the market and fuel allocations would be made
once gaps were identified.
“On the basis of these structures, Government expects the
fuel market to be reasonably supplied during the Independence and Easter holidays,”
she said. “No inconvenience on the part of travellers is envisaged.
“The good thing is that adequate fuel is already in the
country, held in bond, (and) just waiting for payment in foreign currency to be
made before it is released onto the market.
“Upon payment for it, local oil companies can pick up the
fuel either from Harare (Msasa and Mabvuku depots) or Mutare (Feruka Depot),
thus ensuring a minimal turnaround time.”
Dr Magombo said people should not be worried about fuel
supplies over the holiday period.
In an interview in Chinhoyi, HAZ president Mr Innocent
Manyera said while most hotels in resort areas were expected to enjoy brisk
business during the holidays, fuel shortages could affect travel plans.
“Hotels in resort areas are faring better than city hotels
according to the industry’s forecasts ahead of the forthcoming holidays,” he
said. “This is the natural trend where travellers avoid city hotels and go to
resort areas.
“Different operators in the sector are tabling exciting
packages in different formats to offer a memorable holiday experience. However,
most of our Easter business is domestic travellers which might be affected by
fuel prices and shortages of the product.”
Mr Manyera said the fuel shortages might restrict holiday
travel.
“This is our worry and may also affect our pricing
structures,” he said. “We expect Government to address these challenges ahead
of the holidays.”
Zimbabwe has been facing fuel challenges over the past two
weeks as the foreign currency situation continues to bite.
Government early this year also revealed that daily
consumption of both diesel and petrol had risen by 342 percent and 650 percent
respectively between April and October last year.
This, according to Energy and Power Development Minister
Joram Gumbo, has put Government under huge pressure to provide adequate foreign
currency to pay for the commodity.
Petrol consumption rose from 1 million litres per day to
about 7,6 million litres per day, reflecting a 650 percent increase, while
consumption of diesel rose from 1,9 million litres per day to about 7,6 million
litres daily, a hefty 342 percent jump.
As a net fuel importer, Zimbabwe needs foreign currency to
pay for the precious commodity, but low export receipts mean the country does
not have adequate hard currency for the imports, especially after consumption
sky-rocketed. Herald
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