Rwanda: Fuel Shortages Results in New Controls on Fuel Dealers
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Thursday, 08 January 2009 |
Rwandan government has introduced strict rules on fuel dealers as fuel
crisis continues to hit the country, local media has reported.
The government ordered fuel dealers in December to serve a maximum of
20 litres per vehicle of petrol per day, a move aimed at preparing the
government against possible fuel shortages in the country. Trade
and Industry Ministry rules says that consumers who could be found
bribing dealers and dealers who are deliberately refusing to sell
petrol products to some clients could be liable to criminal punishment.
Rwanda experienced fuel shortages in December as a result of high fuel
prices and reduced supply from the Kenyan town of Eldoret where Rwanda
imports from, including the festivities. However, Kenya has claimed to
have also been gripped by the current fuel shortages (See Kenya news
story from PetrolWorld on Monday 5th).
The government said it would pump more than 800,000 litres from its
strategic reserves to avert a possible crisis and congestion at fuel
stations. The rationing has also led to raising of fares as the number
of commuter transport was reduced. But government has maintained that
the rationing should not apply to public transport dealers.
The business community in southern provinces said the ongoing fuel
shortages affected business transactions and transportation, calling on
government's intervention. The local media has reported that bus fares
between Muhanga community in the south and Kigali route have more than
doubled. "A large number of motorcycle operators in Muhanga have
discontinued their services due to the long hours they spend on queues
at petrol stations," New times reported.
Reports also said passengers in the southern provinces have also raised
complaints over high transport costs while the transporters have blamed
the hike on lack of fuel supply at most petrol stations throughout the
country. Rwanda consumes about 200,000 liters of fuel a day to keep the
economy going, while the government has announced it intentions to
import 12 million litres of fuel that will add to its reserves.
PetrolWorld 070109
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