The recent meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Daniel Mukoko, and representatives of the oil industry sparked lively discussions and gave rise to reassuring assurances regarding the supply of fuel in the country. This event, which took place on Thursday, October 17 in Kinshasa, helped to clarify certain points concerning the drop in the price of petroleum products and the impact on the distribution of fuel.
It is important to note that the Congolese government, in consultation with stakeholders in the oil sector, decided to lower the price of fuel at the pump by 13% in order to combat the high cost of living. A measure that quickly led to a large number of vehicles in front of service stations, raising fears of a possible shortage. However, statements by representatives of the oil companies dispelled these fears by stating that there was neither a shortage of fuel nor a problem with the distribution of petroleum products.
During this meeting, professionals in the oil sector expressed their confidence in the assurances given by the government regarding the payment of the shortfall resulting from the downward revision of the price of fuel. The dialogue established between the two parties was welcomed and it was recommended to strengthen this collaboration to ensure better fluidity in the distribution of petroleum products in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is also worth highlighting the crucial role of civil society and the media in monitoring and following up on the situation, in order to ensure total transparency in the management of the country’s energy resources. In this sense, measures to regularly identify and publish data on fuel stocks could be an effective way to ensure fair and efficient management of resources.
In conclusion, this meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and representatives of the oil profession in the Democratic Republic of Congo helped to clarify the current situation regarding fuel supplies. While recognizing the challenges related to the distribution of petroleum products, it is essential to maintain an open and constructive dialogue between stakeholders in the sector in order to ensure transparent and efficient management of the country’s energy resources.