DRC Oil Companies Introduce “Quotas” in Response to Low Stock Levels
The distributors of petroleum products in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), united within the Professional Group of Petroleum Product Distributors (GPDPP), announce the establishment as of Wednesday, October 18, 2023, of the application of a quota for allow the extension of petroleum product coverage for the low stocks still available.
In a correspondence addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the National Economy, Vital Kamerhe, the GPDPP explains that this measure will be taken to avoid total asphyxiation.
“ We will be forced to apply, from Wednesday October 18, 2023, a quota with an adaptation of the opening hours of service stations from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and this to extend, if only a little, the coverage for low stocks available, starting Wednesday October 18. “, informs the document.
The oil companies explain to the Minister of the National Economy that this is “to prevent the system from total asphyxiation which would cause, over time, the appearance of lines of vehicles at the service stations”.
The Professional Group of Petroleum Product Distributors (GPDPP) warns of a “catastrophic” situation that oil companies are going through, with the risk of causing serious disruptions in the country’s supply of petroleum products in the coming days, due to the non-payment by the Government of their shortfall. Which does not allow them to obtain supplies.
These companies specify that the low stocks currently available in the western part of the country are characterized by a persistence at the level of the various commercial companies of negative stocks with harmful consequences.
At the Council of Ministers held on Friday October 13, 2023, the Minister of Hydrocarbons warned of the situation. The Government had made a commitment to urgently resolve this problem of debt payment to oil companies.
Two weeks ago, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and his colleague from the Economy went to the province of Haut-Katanga to provide responses to a similar situation linked to the scarcity of petroleum products.
