KIGALI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda plans to expand its petroleum reserves from 111 million to 320 million liters within two years to ensure a six-month fuel supply, Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi said on Thursday.
Speaking at a forum organized for members of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, Sebahizi highlighted the increasing fuel demand due to the growing number of vehicles and industries in the country.
"Today, due to the increasing number of vehicles and industries, we consume 2 million liters of petrol daily. This stock may last for not more than two months," Sebahizi said.
He emphasized Rwanda's commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in oil storage within the next two years.
"In terms of capacity, we have insufficient reserves. In 2017, storage facilities were established with the capacity to hold 111 million liters. At that time, we used 600,000 liters daily, meaning this storage could last for six months," he said.
He added: "However, our situation is now more challenging. With the increasing number of vehicles and factories consuming at least 2 million liters of petrol daily, our current reserves can last for no more than two months."
To address this issue, Sebahizi said the government is working closely with fuel merchants to expand storage capacity.
"We are currently working with fuel merchants to designate locations for building additional fuel tanks. We have allocated land and given them six months to enhance their capacity, enabling the government to increase fuel reserves from 111 million liters to 320 million liters within the next two years," he said.
The expansion is expected to bolster Rwanda's fuel security, reduce supply disruptions, and support the country's growing industrial and transport sectors, according to Sebahizi. ■