Fuel crisis continues

Zimbabwe's fuel crisis is set to worsen over the next five days following the failure of an oil vessel to dock at the Mozambican port of Beira due to high sea levels after heavy rains, a
Mobil spokeswoman in Zimbabwe told IRIN on Wednesday.

Margaret Magadza of Mobil said the vessel, registered with British Petroleum (BP-South Africa) and carrying fuel supplies for Zimbabwe, had not been able to dock since Sunday. "The fuel situation for the next five days is going to be very critical for Zimbabwe," Magadza told IRIN, adding that the oil
industry is working with gravely reduced stocks.

Magadza added that the last time the country received a sizeable amount of fuel was about two weeks ago. "Deliveries to users will continue to be erratic and there will be frequent stock-outs," she said.

Neil Wright of the Commercial Farmers Union said the fuel situation is already bad for farmers, many of whom he said have had to curtail some of their operations, especially deliveries to domestic markets.

"The fuel reserves that farmers have are running very low, and only export farmers are being given priority in receiving fuel supplies," Wright told IRIN. He warned that the tobacco harvest, Zimbabwe's main foreign exchange earner, is expected to start in a month's time.

Zimbabwe's fuel shortages started in December after the country's oil procurement agency, NOCZIM, failed to pay suppliers because of the shortage of foreign currency. The suppliers, who are reportedly owed about US $230
million, limited provisions to the country and refused to extend credit lines, leading to fuel rationing for ordinary Zimbabweans.