Check out this site for info on Zim supplies. Comments and concerns?

-- Phil Brown (aw350@chebucto.ca), January 19, 2000

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Fuel reserves dwindle, six days supply left

The Zimbabwe Independent (Harare) - January 14, 2000 - By Dumisani Ndlela

Harare - Zimbabwe's fuel situation reached a critical level yesterday with reports that available supplies in the country could last only six days. Diesel supplies were reported to be so depleted that they could dry up by next Wednesday.

Heavy industry is understood to have received an instruction from authorities that they had to cut their consumption because there was not enough diesel on the market.

"As at January 13, the diesel supply situation is critical. We all have to conserve fuel," said Tom Walter, a spokesman for stakeholders in the oil sector.

The stakeholders, who include oil suppliers, the Motor Traders Association, the Commercial Farmers' Union, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, and the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Mines, met Noczim officials yesterday to discuss the crisis in the oil sector.

Although some industry sources said fuel continued to be imported by Noczim, they agreed the parastatal had limited stocks left in its facilities and some depots around the country had already dried up.

The Zimbabwe Independent understands that fuel shipments were being held in the ports of Durban and Beira because international oil suppliers were demanding cash from Noczim before they offloaded their consignments.

The parastatal, which has a fuel procurement monopoly, owed international oil suppliers huge amounts of money and has defaulted on its debts.

It is understood Noczim is in the red to the tune of US$130 million. It has failed to pay some of its foreign debts because of the critical foreign currency shortages in the country.

"Conservation efforts have to be intensified so that we can continue to supply strategic consumers with the limited diesel stocks available," Walter said, adding that a number of sectors had already started reducing their fuel consumption because of the crisis.

Dealers said yesterday the crisis had driven them to the edge. They were making huge losses due to the fuel situation in the country. They are due to meet today and the Independent understands they will be lobbying for a three-day working week to minimise losses. "We want service stations to open for only three days. We'll meet (today) to discuss that issue," a dealer said.

"We are getting deliveries of diesel only when we run out. We are not getting any replenishments until we run out," a fuel dealer said yesterday. "You have to run out first before they can give you replenishments."

It is understood the government was now holding talks with oil suppliers to allow them to import fuel alongside Noczim.

http://www.africanews.org/south/zimbabwe/stories/20000114/20000114_fea t2.html

-- (Zimbabwe@link.com), January 19, 2000.