Article: Oil companies in the southern region threaten to go on strike
Oil companies in the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, Tanganyika and Haut-Lomami in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sent strike notice to the Congolese government. They are demanding payment for unreimbursed losses that they have suffered for some time.
In a press release published this Wednesday, October 18, oil companies in the region declare that they are facing significant losses due to the surge in prices of petroleum products on the international market. This situation forces them to stop the distribution of petroleum products from this Friday, October 20, if their demands are not met.
The Federation of Congolese Companies, section of oil tankers in the South zone, says it cannot resolve this crisis alone and calls on the Congolese government to respect its commitments made at a previous meeting on the fuel crisis. Indeed, the Minister of the National Economy had promised to compensate the losses suffered by the region’s oil companies, but until now, no concrete action has been taken.
The oil sector is also highlighting the issue of the shortfall that the government owes to oil companies to avoid any disruption in the supply of petroleum products. Agreements were to be finalized to refinance part of these losses, but they are slow to materialize.
This potential strike by oil companies in the southern region once again raises issues related to the management of the oil sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The consequences of an interruption in the supply of petroleum products could be detrimental for the economy and the population of the region.
It is therefore crucial that the government takes swift action to resolve this crisis and meet the legitimate demands of oil companies. A concerted and equitable solution is necessary to ensure the stability of the supply of petroleum products and prevent possible disruptions in the southern region of the country.