|
Business
|
|
Written by Moses Talemwa
|
|
Sunday, 25 October 2009 17:59 |
Uganda’s largest fuel importer, Shell, is experiencing a shortage of petrol, which it blames mainly on the stringent measures of getting fuel from Kenya. For about three weeks now, several Shell fuel Stations in Kampala have had no Petrol in their pumps although Diesel remains available.
According to Ivan Kyayonka, Shell Country Manager, the problem, which initially affected diesel, came about last year when the Kenyan government stopped the use of three axle-trucks from ferrying fuel across on its territory because they damage their roads.
As a result the fuel company has had trouble transporting enough fuel from across the border. “We have had some shortages because of moving our products through Kenya but it has subsidized on one product being diesel,” Kyayonka says. Kyayonka says the problem will be finally resolved over the next few weeks.
Despite the problem, Shell remains the largest fuel importer in the country according to the Uganda Revenue Authority followed by Total, Petro Uganda, Kobil and Gapco.
The development comes as fuel prices start dropping due to a surge in the shilling, which has seen some fuel stations selling their petrol at Shs2,370 per litre and Diesel at Shs1950. Dealers say that as the shilling strengthens farther they hope to cut prices too.
However, there are reports of a surge in international oil prices, which reportedly reached an all new high for 2009, at $79.61 a barrel in New York trading, continuing its recent rise on the back of the weak US dollar and strong US company results.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form