KICUKIRO - The government is importing 12 million litres of fuel to add to its strategic reserves. This was announced Saturday by the Minister of Commerce Monique Nsanzabaganwa at the ministry’s offices in Kicukiro district.

"Government has ordered for 7 million litres of petrol and 5 million litres of diesel from various collection centres to supplement the 1.3 million litres already in stock.”

"Since private dealers provide a small amount of fuel, government has seen it important to intervene and help the private sector supply strategic stocks,” Nsanzabaganwa told the press.

She revealed that last Friday a tender had been awarded to a private company, Hashi Empex limited, to ship in more fuel. She expressed concern that the fuel crisis was prevalent throughout East Africa, explaining that plans in Rwanda were underway to rectify the problem.

"We have also gone as far as seeking approval from neighbouring countries to allow our local firms to access fuel right from the source at the east African coast,” she said.

She added, "…and while the fuel problem still remains a challenge in the country, we are trying to keep law and order at the congested outlets where fuel is available.” She condemned transport companies that have gone out of their way to hike transport fares citing the fuel shortages.

"Even if the fuel is in minimum quantities, it is not acceptable that prices have risen. So transport charges are expected to remain the same unless instructed otherwise,” she pointed out.

The minister largely blamed the crisis on the infrastructure of neighbouring countries and the inconsistent pipeline that supplies the eastern part of Kenya.

Rwanda has plans to build a pipeline to bring in fuel from the Indian Ocean.

"The pipeline that supplies Eldoret is sometimes faulty. So if we link our pipeline from that point, it means that we may also be affected even if we put everything in place,” Nsanzabaganwa explained.

The minister also revealed that construction of other fuel storage tanks was underway.

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