Zimbabwe fuels supplies resume

FEARS of a looming fuel shortage in Zimbabwe have abated following completion of repairs to the pump house at Beira which was damaged during the violent Cyclone Idai storm in Mozambique.

The cyclone ripped through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe damaging the docking ports for fuel deliveries and the pump house when it made landfall at Beira on March 14.

Zimbabweans, already facing intermittent fuel supplies owing to serious foreign currency shortages, were bracing for a crisis in the fuel sector following reports that ships were failing to offload fuel at Beira.

Government through the Information ministry said, despite the extensive damage on the pump house and the landing jetty, emergency repairs had been conducted and fuel was now being pumped to Zimbabwe.

"Companhiado De Pipeline Mozambique Zimbabwe staff have been working tirelessly to get things back on track. Pumping from Beira resumed last night and the jetty started receiving vessels today," the ministry said.

Major fuel supplier, Total Zimbabwe last week issued a warning, saying fuel supplies were going to be affected owing to the Cyclone Idai-induced damages.

"Following the devastating effect of Cyclone Idai experienced in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the fuel supply chain logistics into Zimbabwe have been negatively affected…
the jetty in Beira has been damaged and can't receive vessels to discharge, pumping house roof has been blown away, the electrical board was affected and the status is not yet known," Total said last Thursday. Government was considering using the more expensive road transportation route to meet the country's fuel requirements.