• Breaking News – PROVIDENT FUND BOARD CHAIRPERSON MDUDUZI GINA:We are consulting on Labour Minister’s letter.
Swaziland News Logo

FUEL CRISIS: Exposed eSwatini government to issue Mozambique fuel import permits to oil companies.

Thursday, 30th December, 2021

MBABANE: Senator Peter Bhembe, the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy said Government would soon issue permits to oil companies to import fuel from Mozambique.

This comes after this Swaziland News exposed how Finance Minister and King Mswati’s alleged business partner Neal Rijikernberg allegedly introduced policies that seek to frustrate other oil companies in the country including Galp resulting to the current fuel crisis.

The Finance Minister allegedly introduced the policies to discourage the importation of fuel from Mozambique, he wanted oil companies to import from countries within the Southern African Customs Union(SACU) to boost the country's receipts.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Minister of Natural Resources admitted that Government was not issuing permits to oil companies that wanted to import fuel from Mozambique resulting to the current fuel crisis.

“The Ministry of Finance will issue special import permits to source fuel through Mozambique during the first quarter of 2022, to ensure security fuel supply in the country”, reads the statement in part.

Reached for comments, Fanie Mthethwa, the Galp Sales and Marketing Director said the delay in the issuing of permits by the Ministry of Finance affected their business.

“The delay has affected us as we have to go to market late and traders are not in office at this time. We will however do our best to avail product”,he said.

Sibongile Mazibuko, the President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) said the problem was that King Mswati was also in business and was protecting his own selfish business interests.

They say they are protecting the SACU receipts says  which in turn benefit the King  who will use the money to buy private jets. It's always about him not the people,”said the NNLC President.

FUEL CRISIS: Exposed eSwatini government to issue Mozambique fuel import permits to oil companies.
Galp filling station.