30 May 2016, Dar es Salaam – The government has suspended the supplier of the contaminated jet fuel and directed the concerned company to immediately start cleaning all the tanks and pipes of the affected oil companies in the country.
Energy and Minerals Minister Professor Sospeter Muhongo issued the directive in Dar es Salaam yesterday, ordering Sahara Energy Resources Limited liable for the supply of Jet A-1 fuel to implement the order starting today or face punitive action.
“Sahara Energy Resource should forget doing business in this country if cleaning won’t take place tomorrow (today) so that the new cargo, to arrive soon, finds storage facilities and pipes clean,” said the minister.
Prof Muhongo said that if the company fails to abide by the directives, the government would cancel other tenders that the company has been awarded before in the country. However, the government has suspended it from receiving any tenders for allegedly being involved in the supply of dirty jet fuel.
The minister was speaking shortly after touring several oil companies in the city to investigate the contaminated jet fuel saga and address the anomaly. In another development, Prof Muhongo has reassured the public that the situation is under control as efforts are underway to ensure that the country does not face shortage of the fuel.
“I would like to assure Tanzanians that the fuel is available,” he said noting that Puma Energy has made arrangements to acquire the product from Total Oil Company Tanzania and SP Oil and Gas from Rwanda.
- Tanzania Daily News