Govt warns dealers against hoarding fuel

DAR ES SALAAM: DEPUTY Energy Minister Judith Kapinga has warned oil marketing companies against hoarding fuel, a malpractice which creates shortage and leads to price increase.

“We will not hesitate instituting legal measures against them,” Ms Kapinga stressed over the weekend when graced Puma Energy Tanzania dealer award held in ar es Salaam.

The annual event was meant to recognise the contribution of dealers of Puma Energy. At the event, the Deputy Minister challenged the Puma Energy Tanzania to extend its reach to rural places where supply of fuel has been a challenge.

Currently, the company has 74 fuel stations, but she said, the number is still low considering the company’s size and challenges of oil distribution to the rural Tanzania. Speaking about the award, she asked the company to make it sustainable and ensure it highly invests in Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR), particularly in education so as to help the country produce more experts for the oil and gas sector.

Earlier, when welcoming the deputy minister, chairperson of the Puma’s board of directors, Mr Selemani Majige, thanked President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for her efforts, promising that the company will ensure more availability of fuel.

He promised that the company will establish more fuel stations particularly in rural areas.

Earlier, Puma Energy Tanzania Managing Director Fatma Abdallah said the company has continued opening a new chapter by awarding dealers who have performed well. She said the process to select winners has always been transparent.