KIGALI- SP Aviation, a local aviation company, yesterday, unveiled three state-of-the-art jet refuelling trucks which will be servicing Kigali International Airport, replacing the old and outdated trucks.

The Mercedes Axor trucks, two with capacity of 36, 000 each and a smaller one with a capacity 18, 000 litres, complete with adjustable ladders, mean that any airplane can refuel at Kigali International Airport, including Jumbo jets.

The trucks which boast the latest jet refuelling technology were, yesterday, unveiled by the Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva, in the presence of several  government officials and business leaders, at the aviation fuel depot in Kanombe, Kicukiro District.

Minister Nsengiyumva described the development as a major step towards the government’s goal of raising the standards of the country’s main airport.

"We are impressed much as we know that we still have a long way to go. We want to ensure that our airport receives as many people as possible,”

"The government is willing to support local investors who want to invest in airport facilities. We want to see the capacity of the people using our airport increasing, and with such facilities, we are sure more airlines will consider the Kigali route,” he added.

Nsengiyumva said that the new equipment means that the airport has the capacity to refuel all planes, observing that the new technology comes at a time when more airlines are targeting the Kigali route.

Among other things, he said, the government wants to increase in the short-term the fuel reserves at the airport from two million cubic litres to about three million and, at the same time, set competitive fuel prices to ensure that most airlines consider refuelling in Kigali.

According to the Director of SP Group, Charles Daudi Maingu, the airport lacked refuelling equipment until 2010 when SP took over from Bakri International Energy, an Indian subsidiary which held the contract to refuel planes.

"The trucks were old so we imported brand new equipment from the UK. The bigger trucks have a capacity of 36, 000 litres which means that they can refuel any plane in a single route,”

"We have also invested in different systems in the depot, including the hydrant system which had initially broken down. We also revamped the fuel pump while our fire fighting capacity has also been improved,” Maingu said.

According to the director of finance at SP, Jean Pierre Rubulika, the company invested over US$861, 000 in the Mercedes Axor trucks and intends to invest more US$3 million in the fuel reserve facility.

Businessman Egide Gatera, who has a stake in the investment, said that, as a Rwandan company, the group is committed to investing in the best aviation services which foreigners had initially failed to provide, noting that the refuelling technology is the first of its kind in the region.

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