Title: Scarcity of petroleum products in Lubumbashi: the government on a mission to resolve the crisis
Introduction :
The scarcity of petroleum products in Lubumbashi, in the Haut Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, worries the population. Faced with this situation, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the National Economy Vital Kamerhe and the Minister of Hydrocarbons Didier Budimbu went to the region to try to find solutions. This government mission aims to examine the demands of oil sector operators and resolve the crisis affecting the city’s service stations.
The problem of the scarcity of petroleum products:
Since September 28, several gas stations in Lubumbashi have been closed, leading to a fuel shortage in the region. Oil sector operators cite several reasons to explain this crisis. First of all, they highlight the shortage of stocks and the government’s non-payment of the shortfall that it should subsidize or make up for. In addition, they report the increase in the price of a barrel on the international market. This combination of factors has led to a confusing situation on the market, with some resellers setting exorbitant prices, well above official pump prices.
The consequences of the crisis:
The scarcity of petroleum products has a direct impact on the population of Lubumbashi. Taxi and taxi-bus drivers have had to increase the price of fares, which puts a strain on residents’ budgets. In addition, resellers, commonly known as “Kadaffi”, are taking advantage of the situation to set even higher prices. This crisis affects the daily life of many Congolese who depend on fuel for their travels and activities.
The government mission to resolve the crisis:
Faced with this worrying situation, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Hydrocarbons went to Lubumbashi to find solutions. A meeting of the technical price monitoring committee also took place to examine the demands of oil operators. By working in collaboration with the Ministry of National Economy, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the General Directorate of Customs and Excise and oil operators, the government hopes to find concrete measures to resolve the crisis and restore the supply of petroleum products in the region.
Conclusion :
The scarcity of petroleum products in Lubumbashi represents a real challenge for the Congolese population. Faced with this situation, the government sent a crisis resolution mission to respond to the demands of oil sector operators and find lasting solutions.. It is essential to resolve this crisis quickly in order to limit the consequences on the daily lives of the inhabitants of Lubumbashi and to allow economic recovery in the region.