Off the wire
• 2nd LD-Writethru: Chinese shares close lower Monday  • About 7,000 Japanese seek compensation from TEPCO over nuclear crisis  • Former Ugandan PM says to run for presidency in 2016 general elections  • Netherlands FM to visit China  • Australian billionaire's family feud returns to Federal Court  • Olympic diving champ He Chong to miss Kazan swimming worlds  • Del Bosque optimistic for future after 100th game in charge  • Foreign exchange rates in India  • Greek socialists elect woman for first time as new party leader  • China Hushen 300 index futures close lower Monday  
You are here: 　 Home

Republic of Congo capital hit by fuel shortage

Xinhua, June 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Republic of Congo capital, Brazzaville, has in the last one week experienced a serious fuel shortage in most service stations.

In most service stations in the town, long queues of vehicles are visible.

The Congolese government has not yet given any explanations regarding the fuel shortage that has disrupted transport in the capital city.

Due to the fuel shortage, taxi charges have risen from the normal 1,000 CFA Francs (about 2 U.S. dollars) to 1,500 CFA Francs.

Some vehicle owners have been forced to park their vehicles at home due to fuel shortage. Some have resorted to buying fuel from hawkers, commonly referred to as "Kadafi," who illegally import fuel from Kinshasa, the capital of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fuel shortage has become frequent in Brazzaville yet the country has a refinery in its commercial capital, Pointe Noire. However, transportation of fuel using the country's railway line from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville, a distance of 515 km, has always been faced with challenges.

Official statistics showed that Republic of Congo's production of crude oil was expected to increase from 95.3 million barrels in 2014 to 103.8 million barrels in 2015.

Petroleum is Republic of Congo's key resource product, contributing two thirds of the country's GDP, 75 percent of public revenue and 90 percent of its export earnings. Endi