In response to recent fuel shortages in Gabon, the country's petroleum and gas sector convened to review the supply chain and prevent future disruptions. The meeting, led by Thibault Gaël Idoumi, Director-General of the Oil and Gas Downstream Sector, brought together marketers and representatives from the Amicale des transporteurs terrestres des produits pétroliers (ATTPP). The goal was to secure the sector and ensure uninterrupted economic activity.
According to Idoumi, the technical teams across the value chain have been mobilized to restore order in the sector. The recovery process is described as progressive, with the government working to prevent a prolonged crisis. New shipments are expected to arrive, covering the demand for diesel and gasoline. The meeting allowed stakeholders to discuss their strategies for coping with the sudden crisis.
Yvon Tchicot, Director-General of the Société gabonaise d’entreposage des produits pétroliers (SGEPP), provided additional insights into the storage and distribution of petroleum products. The SGEPP, responsible for storing products from the Société gabonaise de raffinage (Sogara), does not own the stored volumes. Instead, each marketer submits a plan to procure products based on pre-established order and delivery notes.
To enhance supply security, the SGEPP plans to increase its hydrocarbon storage capacity. This move aims to mitigate potential future shortages and ensure a stable supply of petroleum products. The recent shortages have prompted industry stakeholders to reassess their operations and prepare for potential disruptions.
Eric Alain Sounda, Director-General of Gab’Oil, highlighted the importance of the meeting in allowing marketers to share their experiences and strategies for managing the crisis. Gab’Oil has implemented internal measures to streamline its supply chain and serve as many clients as possible. Other companies, such as Ola Energy, are gradually resuming operations and awaiting responses from the refinery to their requests.
Euloge Moussavou, Operations Director at Ola Energy, reported that the company has an autonomy of approximately three days for both gasoline and diesel. Jean Lescure from TotalEnergies advised clients to bring approved jerrycans to filling stations for safety reasons. The industry stakeholders emphasized the need for cooperation to prevent future shortages.
Valérie Igoumou, President of the ATTPP, praised the mobilization of transporters since Saturday evening. However, she raised concerns about driver fatigue, highlighting the risks associated with prolonged working hours. The ATTPP and other stakeholders have pledged to play their roles in ensuring a stable supply of petroleum products in Gabon.
Key points
- The Gabonese government and industry stakeholders are working together to address fuel shortages and prevent future disruptions in the petroleum product supply chain.
- The Société gabonaise d’entreposage des produits pétroliers (SGEPP) plans to increase its hydrocarbon storage capacity to enhance supply security.
- Industry stakeholders have emphasized the need for cooperation and preparedness to mitigate potential future shortages and ensure a stable supply of petroleum products.
