Page 10 - AfrOil Week 14 2020

AfrOil PERFORMANCE AfrOil
IMOPETRO head says Mozambique not heading for fuel shortages
MOZAMBIQUE
The head of Mozambique’s state petroleum import agency IMOPETRO has said that the country is not likely to experience any fuel short- ages as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
João Macandja, the managing director of IMOPETRO, told Mozambique’s national press agency AIM last week that the country’s petro- leum product inventories were full enough to cover demand until the end of the month, when the state of emergency imposed by the govern- ment is due to expire. “No breakdown in fuel supplies is envisaged,” he reported. “The amount of fuel in our tanks is enough for at least 30 days of consumption.”
Additionally, he said, Mozambique’s sup- pliers have not halted fuel deliveries. There are several tankers waiting to unload their cargoes in Mozambican ports, and shipping operators have confirmed that more vessels will arrive in May and June, he told AIM.
Moreover, he said, the supply outlook is even more favourable in light of the fact that fuel con- sumption levels are down. Indeed, Mozambique actually has an excess of petroleum products, since economic activity has dwindled since the imposition of public health measures that con- strain fuel demand, he remarked.
Macandja did say, though, that Mozambique
was on track to see imports of LPG, known locally as cooking gas, rise this year. The country imported some 26,000 tonnes of LPG in 2019, and volumes are set to reach 50,000 tonnes in 2020, he said. LPG consumption is climbing because many household consumers prefer to use cooking gas instead of firewood or charcoal, he noted.
Mozambique’s government declared a state of emergency on April 1. As noted above, this declaration is due to expire at the end of April. Maputo has the option of extending it by up to two more 30-day periods. ™
Mozambique is set to see LPG imports rise this year (Photo: File)
Tanzania says pandemic not likely to disrupt domestic fuel supplies
TANZANIA
TANZANIA’S Energy and Water Utilities Reg- ulatory Authority (EWURA) has indicated that it does not expect domestic petroleum product markets to suffer any disruptions as a result of thecoronavirus(COVID-19)outbreak.
According to Titus Kaguo, EWURA’s com- munications and public relations manager, the country has enough fuel on hand to cover demand for the next two months. “We usually import fuel in advance to serve the country for two months ahead, which means we are not expecting to experience any fuel shortage during this time, when the country is battling COVID-19.”
Additionally, he said, the government has
a policy of maintaining petroleum product reserves in order to cushion supplies from mar- ket shocks.
“As per the Petroleum Act, the country needs tohaveareservetocaterforatleast15days,”he explained.
The country is also due to receive additional shipments of fuel in the near term, he added. “As I am speaking to you today, we’re looking forward to receiving a consignment of fuel that will be on reserve until July 2020, when it will be available to the market,” he said.
Kaguo went on to say that Tanzania had no
plans to hike retail or wholesale fuel prices in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 13 01•April•2020