Tunisia's latest fuel shortage leads to long queues at petrol stations

Confusion reigns as officials offer several reasons for lack of supply

Cars queue at a petrol station in Tunis. Ghaya Ben Mbarek/The National

Long queues have been forming at petrol stations in Tunis since early on Tuesday due to dwindling fuel supplies, with some officials accusing the public of panic buying.

Tunisia’s supply and distribution of fuel has been a recurring problem which last emerged in October amid a crisis in public finances and lack of foreign currency reserves.

Salwan Smiri, Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union's Oil and Chemicals Federation, said the lack of fuel was down to a logistical problem. He told local radio station Mosaique on Tuesday that transporting petrol from the commercial port of Bizerte in the north of the country had become difficult.

The labour union official denied that a strike in the sector was behind the shortage and said the distribution process was under way.

Mr Smiri also confirmed the availability of unleaded fuel to cover public needs for about four to five days, pending the unloading of a shipment in the next two days.

Other officials blamed an unverified online rumour for spreading panic.

The president and general manager of the National Petroleum Distribution Company (Ajeel), Khaled Beltin, called on citizens to avoid causing overcrowding at gas stations.

“The increased demand we have witnessed is the result of citizens’ fear, which stemmed from incorrect information … supplying operations are continuing as per usual,” he said.

Despite the reassurances that officials attempted to provide, the disruption in oil supply continued on Wednesday.

Some fuel distribution stations were empty.

“We don't have gasoline any more, we've simply ran out,” one service station clerk in Lac district in Tunis, told The National.

He said they had noticed that the usual supply they receive has decreased since early last week, which made them ration the amount of fuel people could have.

At a government meeting on Tuesday, Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden reaffirmed the need for a more sustainable fuel-supply system.

Ms Bouden also stressed Tunisia’s need to attract further investment in its energy sector.

Meanwhile, President Kais Saied accused what he called “known parties”, which he did not identify, of provoking the shortage of basic goods in the country, including fuel.

According to a report from the Ministry of Industry National Observatory of Energy and Mines, national crude oil production in Tunisia was down by 18 per cent in March, compared to the same period in 2022.

The same report also indicated that Tunisia’s energy independence ratio dropped to 47 per cent at the end of March from 51 per cent last year.

Tunisia has been tapping into its strategic reserves to meet domestic market demand for petroleum products, the general director of hydrocarbons at the ministry of industry, Rachid Ben Dali, told state news agency Tap last year.

According to Mr Ben Dali, consumption of petroleum products in the country was about 90,000 barrels per day, while the production capacity of the Tunisian Company for Refining Industries was 32,000 bpd.

The estimated shortfall of 58,000 bpd is reportedly being covered by strategic reserves, as the country grows increasingly dependent on imports to maintain stability in its energy sector.