What You Need to Know
The Tanzanian government has confirmed that fuel stocks are stable and sufficient to last for two to three months, despite global supply pressures. Permanent Secretary for Petroleum and Gas, Dr. James Mataragio, reported adequate reserves of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, while cautioning that prices may rise due to ongoing conflicts affecting global markets.
Africa-Press – Tanzania. The government has assured Tanzanians of steady fuel availability, with current reserves sufficient to last between two and three months despite ongoing global supply pressures.
The reassurance was issued Permanent Secretary for Petroleum and Gas in the Ministry of Energy, Dr James Mataragio, who said the country’s fuel situation remains stable and prices are relatively manageable.
Speaking to journalists in addressing es Salaam on Saturday, Dr Mataragio said Tanzania currently holds adequate petroleum stocks across all key categories, with additional shipments and contracts in place to cushion against global shortages linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
He detailed that petrol stocks in storage stand at 95.2 million litres, with an additional 1.4 million litres already received and 138.7 million litres in transit. This brings the total available petrol to 380.6 million litres, enough to meet demand for 61 days.
Dr Mataragio added that contracted petrol supplies amounting to 183.5 million litres are expected to arrive in April, raising total availability to 563.6 million litres—sufficient for up to 91 days.
On diesel, he said current stocks in tanks stand at 55.7 million litres, with 122.8 million litres already delivered and 184.6 million litres on the way. This totals 362.4 million litres, enough for 44 days.
He noted that additional contracted diesel supplies of 167.3 million litres will push total availability to 530.6 million litres, which can sustain consumption for up to 64 days.
For aviation fuel, Dr Mataragio said the country has 35.2 million litres in storage and 23.7 million litres under contract, bringing the total to 59 million litres—sufficient for 97 days.
However, he cautioned that fuel prices may rise in the coming weeks due to increasing costs on the global market, driven by the continuing conflict in the Middle East.
The government, he said, is closely monitoring the situation and taking measures to ensure uninterrupted supply and mitigate the impact of global price shocks on the domestic market.
Tanzania’s energy sector has faced various challenges over the years, particularly concerning fuel supply and pricing. The country relies on imports for a significant portion of its petroleum needs, making it vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Recent geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, have further complicated the situation, prompting the government to take proactive measures to ensure fuel availability and price stability for its citizens. Historical efforts to diversify energy sources and enhance local production have been ongoing, but reliance on imports remains a critical issue.
