Under threat of an imminent strike, oil companies in the southern zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo have sent strike notice to the government. These companies accuse the government of not honoring its financial commitments and disrupting their activities.
In a press release published recently, the Federation of Congolese Companies, section of oil companies in the southern zone, says that oil companies are facing unreimbursed losses from the Congolese government, which places them in a difficult financial situation. Prices of petroleum products on the international market have also increased, leading to supply and distribution problems in the region.
Oil companies in the southern zone, including the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, Tanganyika and Haut-Lomami, have therefore decided to act by stopping the distribution of petroleum products from this Friday, October 20, unless the government does not react quickly and take measures to resolve this crisis.
The Congolese Business Federation is calling on the Congolese government to respect commitments made at a previous meeting on the fuel crisis. The government had promised to reimburse losses suffered by oil companies in the Greater Katanga region, as well as to publish a new price structure for petroleum products. Unfortunately, until now, no action has been taken by the government to resolve these issues.
This potential strike by oil companies once again highlights the challenges facing the oil industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The stability of the supply of petroleum products is essential for the functioning of the economy, as well as for the daily lives of citizens. It is therefore crucial that the government takes immediate action to resolve this crisis and avoid any major disruption to fuel supplies in the region.
This situation also highlights the need for closer collaboration and communication between the government and oil companies to ensure the stability and prosperity of the industry in the country.
In conclusion, oil companies in the southern zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo are threatening to strike due to non-payment of losses suffered and the rise in prices of petroleum products. It is now in the hands of the government to take rapid and effective action to resolve this crisis and avoid major disruption to fuel supplies in the region.