Didier Budimbu discusses with oil companies the need to set up a strategic reserve

The scarcity of petroleum products in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains a topical issue that is of great concern to the country’s authorities.

To this end, the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Didier Budimbu, organized an emergency meeting on Thursday, June 16, 2022 to inquire about the situation of the marketing and storage of fuels within oil companies.

The heads of oil companies were invited to discuss the issue of the scarcity of oil products in the various service stations in Kinshasa while the products are available in the country.

This situation is considered worrying by the Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons, Didier Budimbu, who plans to explore other solutions, in particular the establishment of a strategic reserve by the Government in order to stay the course and guarantee the supply and marketing of petroleum products for the benefit of the Congolese population.

However, the Minister of Hydrocarbons promises to send a team of Hydro task force which will descend on the ground to follow closely the evolution of the system of supply and marketing of petroleum products and to know why the queues continue in stations.

All in all, the need for petroleum products has increased significantly and the volume put up for sale on a daily basis has undergone the same curve. With obviously an incidence having caused the observed rarity of these products.

Present at the meeting, the Director General of Total estimated that the lines observed follow the psychosis within the population which supplies itself in order to prevent cases of scarcity.

For its part, Sep Congo confirms the increase in the level of daily consumption, which has doubled.

Given that products such as petrol, diesel and jet are available, there is no reason for service stations to be in short supply.