DRC: a shortage of kerosene disrupts air traffic

A Congo Airways plane on the tarmac at Kinshasa airport.

August 15, 2020. AFP - ARSENE MPIANA

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Ndjili International Airport in Kinshasa is facing a shortage of kerosene.

This situation causes various disruptions, including delayed, rescheduled or canceled flights.

The reason: a planning problem that is accentuated by the context of global price increases.

So far, no solution has been found. 

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa

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Inventories have fallen significantly.

Typically, around 20,000 litres/day are distributed to each local airline.

Currently, no operator can buy more than 8,000 liters per day of "Jet A 1" kerosene. 

A significant demand that is not satisfied in several countries of the sub-region.

Some companies have tried unsuccessfully to obtain supplies from Congo-Brazzaville or Angola.

Faced with these disturbances and to avoid tensions between passengers and airport agents at Kinshasa airport, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons this week advised airlines to suspend the sale of their tickets.

Today, some lines from Ndjili have been canceled and some planes are currently grounded, waiting for the situation to stabilize.

The next fuel boats are announced for next week.

At the political level, meetings are multiplying.

On Saturday, during the council, the Prime Minister instructed the members concerned of his government to take all the measures for a return to normal.

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