Fuel shortages cause problems for transport in Sudan

Hundreds of students demonstrated in Nyala city against the continued rise of prices of basic goods. Fuel shortages caused problems for public transport, fuel stations and water engine owners.

The students, mostly from higher secondary school, marched to the state government's headquarters in the centre of Nyala to protest against the surge of prices at the governor's office on Monday. The authorities refused to receive them and used excessive force and tear gas to disperse them, a witness said.

“The government deployed a large police force and the Rapid Support Forces on the main roads of the city.”

Fuel shortage

The fuel shortage in Sudan continued to negatively impact transportation in the capital city and in the states, leading to increased transport tariffs.

Ed Damazin in Blue Nile state faces such a fuel shortage and transport services nearly doubled their rate.

A resident said: “The price of a transport ticket from Ed Damazin to Roseires has risen from three to five Pounds. The price of a ticket from the grand market to the university has risen from two to three Pounds.

Most of the town's fuel stations have closed their doors, he added.

Local transport on strike

Public transport owners in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, have gone on strike starting Thursday, to criticise the fact that they have to increase their tariffs.

One of the owners of mini-buses told Radio Dabanga that El Geneina's commissioner decided that the prices per passenger should be raised. “On Monday, the commissioner asked vehicle owners in a meeting for an additional three days, before he decides on the tariff.

In East Darfur, residents complained of the severe shortage of fuel. According to owners of water engines and mills, fuel station owners told them that the state ordered stations to spend only two gallons per day.

“Any more gallons require the approval and certification from the military intelligence,” a water engine owner said. “But I consume at least two diesoline barrels a day, so this restriction has harmed my business because we have to suffer to get fuel under this new procedure.”

Distribution to increase

On Monday, the Ministry of Oil and Gas announced an increase in the daily distribution of diesel to 9,000 tons per day. The daily consumption is 8,000 tons.

Oil Minister of State Saadeldin El Bushra said that the daily quantities pumped by the Ministry covers the diesel need of the country “by more than 1,000 tons per day, which means that fuel is abundant in petrol stations.”