Congo addresses fuel supply concerns and logistical challenges

The Ministry of Hydrocarbons in Congo has addressed growing public concern regarding fuel shortages in Kinshasa. Minister of State Acacia Bandubola Mbongo denied a general shortage, stating that national petroleum stocks are sufficient to meet consumer demand. The Ministry attributed recent queues at service stations to logistical challenges, specifically traffic congestion hindering the movement of tanker trucks from depots to pumps.

To resolve these bottlenecks, authorities have announced an action plan that includes night-time rotations for fuel deliveries to bypass daytime traffic issues.

In Brazzaville, fuel scarcity has caused significant disruptions to urban activity, affecting transportation and businesses reliant on generators. Despite being an OPEC member and a crude oil producer, the country faces a paradox where it must import refined products due to insufficient domestic refining capacity. The national refinery, Coraf, currently operates below national requirements due to aging infrastructure and technical shutdowns.