Minister denies rumours of imminent fuel shortage

Rumours circulating in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui that a fuel shortage had struck the city were vigorously denied by CAR Minister of Mines and Energy Andre Nalke Ndorobo. Speaking on Tuesday to Radio Centrafrique, Nalke said that he had made a tour of all petrol stations the capital himself and had also met with the managing director of Total-Centrafrique to verify if there was any substance to the rumours. “I assure you right away that there is no substance at all to it,” he stated. “Our current stocks [of petrol] are good and guarantee us an autonomy of more that two months. Let me add that every day, we have deliveries from Douala [Cameroon] by road, but we are also expecting oil products brought by river. Our situation therefore should not be seen in terms of fear of possible shortages.”