Brazzaville, the Congolese capital, has been experiencing a butane gas crisis for several weeks. Housewives and other angry consumers sometimes travel long distances without finding this precious product. The scarcity is believed to be due to a supply problem.
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With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loicia Martial
Several butane gas sales points are closed in the capital. At arm’s length, in wheelbarrows, rickshaws, on motorbikes or even in taxis, consumers transport their gas canisters and tour the city. The only place where they can get supplies is the warehouse of the distribution company called Faaki. But they succeed with great difficulty, as Juste, 25, explains.
“ I’ve been here since morning. There, it’s 4 p.m., it’s now that I find the gas [une bouteille de 12 kilos, NDLR]. It’s really a hassle », he complains.
To compensate for this shortage, users resort to firewood and charcoal for cooking. But ” even the price of coal has increased. The bag which was at 5000 F is now at 6500 F or even 7000 F », notes Juste.
So they scream their anger. “ It’s sad. You can’t believe that in an oil producing country, people live in the jungle. Until when? It must be said that we haven’t had gas for a month. It’s very sad », they say.
According to a source at the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the shortage is due to the maintenance problem of the installations of the Nkossa field, which is the main source of supply. Which leads the country to resort to imports.