Ministry of Mines and Energy defends Vitol deal amid jet fuel shortage

Energy minister Modestus Amutse clarified that the current jet A-1 supply challenge is a quality and supply issue stemming from a commercial arrangement between two oil marketing companies, separate from the government's petrol and diesel supply agreement. He explained that Puma had lent Vivo jet fuel, with a shipment intended to repay Puma failing inspection, leading to distribution problems. The next jet fuel shipment is anticipated on Saturday.

Amutse emphasized that the government's deal with Vitol, Vivo's parent company, is specifically for petrol and diesel and does not cover jet A-1 fuel. He is considering including jet A-1 fuel in the regulatory and supply security framework to ensure the aviation fuel supply chain's resilience. Investigations into the low-quality fuel are ongoing.

Nelson Kalangula, the Independent Patriots for Change’s shadow transport minister, stated that the fuel disruption exposes weaknesses in the aviation sector, negatively impacting Namibia's economy and reputation. He called for audits by the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority and the establishment of strategic fuel reserves, also questioning the timing of launching a new national airline given the fuel security issues.