Zimbabwean gov't allays fuel shortage rumors

The Zimbabwean government on Thursday dismissed reports that the country is running out of fuel stocks, saying it had adequate fuel supplies to meet local demand, state news agency New Ziana reported.

The rumors have been circulating on social media, alleging that fuel stocks in Zimbabwe would soon dry up.

Permanent Secretary for Energy and Power Development Patson Mbiriri rebutted the rumors, saying the country had more fuel than it required despite a drop in imports in recent months.

"We have adequate stocks of fuel in the country and we will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure continuous fuel supplies," he said.

He said the decrease in fuel imports was due to reduced demand by bulk fuel buyers that include industry and the mining sector.

"It does not point to a shortage," he added.

On daily basis, Zimbabwe needs about 2.5 million liters of diesel and 1.5 million liters of petrol but these figures have been going down, Mbiriri said.

At least 90 percent of the country's fuel is brought in by pipeline, with the remaining 10 percent moved by road and rail.

Zimbabwe recently introduced tight import controls to curtail the country's huge import bill against low exports, a situation government has said is also causing current cash shortages in the economy. Endi