Page 12 - AfrOil Week 14 2022

AfrOil PERFORMANCE AfrOil

Head of EWURA says Tanzania

is not at risk of fuel shortages

TANZANIA THE head of Tanzania’s Energy and Water Util- Deodatus Balile, the chairperson of TEF, urged
ities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) sought to the government to expand the country’s fuel
downplay concerns about the possibility of dis- storage capacity on April 1, saying that such a
ruptions in petroleum product supplies on April measure might mitigate price increases in the
2, saying that the government is taking steps to vent of fluctuation on world crude oil markets.
ensure that the country has enough fuel to meet “This might help in the efforts to control the reg-
demand. ular increase of petrol price that in turn affects
According to Godfrey Chibulunje, the direc- the economy of individuals,” the newspaper
tor of EWURA, there are currently no reasons quoted him as saying.
for worry about Tanzania’s supply situation. The Balile also encouraged Tanzanian authorities
country has enough fuel in its storage facilities to to promote alternative fuels – including natural
last for at least one whole month, and these vol- gas, which he described as a good alternative for
umes are being stored in special depots near port petroleum-based motor fuels. “TEF also advises
facilities in Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga, the government to consider waiving taxes and
he stated. levies on equipment used to convert cars from
Meanwhile, he added, several other tankers petroleum to natural gas use,” he commented. ™
are already heading for Tanzanian ports. Addi-
tionally, he said, Tanzania has ordered several
more fuel cargoes from Middle Eastern suppli-
ers, and these are due to arrive in the near future.
“Tanzania has petrol reserve which can be
used for 27 days, [as well as] diesel for up to 19
days and kerosene for 14 days,” he was quoted
as saying by the Tanzania Daily News. “This is
to assure you that there is no possibility of fuel
scarcity any time soon.”
Chibulunje was responding to questions
raised by members of Tanzania Editors Forum
(TEF) as to the possibility of whether the war
sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might
lead to any petroleum product shortages in the
East African country.
According to the Tanzania Daily News, EWURA maintains special fuel storage depots in three locations (Image: EWURA)

POLICY
Mabuza: Mozambique has agreed to sell

gas to ease South Africa’s energy crisis

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH Africa will buy more natural gas from Manthashe has concluded discussions on
Mozambique to help curb an energy crisis in an energy supply deal with his Mozambican
the country, plagued by unprecedented levels of counterpart.
load shedding. “Discussions between our minister here of
Deputy President David Mabuza told Par- mineral resources and Mozambique are quite
liament in Cape Town on Thursday (March 31) advanced in terms of gas that we should trans-
that the government is working on addressing port from Mozambique to the country. I can
the electricity shortage. safely say that we have reached an agreement,”
He also stated that Energy Minister Gwede Mabuza said.

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 14 06•April•2022