Govt, retailers push for new fuel routes

Fuel shortages in May and December last year exposed the country's total reliance on South Africa and in particular the Tarlton Depot through which 76 percent of Botswana's annual 850 million litres of fuel imports come.

Fuel shortages gripped the country over the festive season owing to maintenance shutdowns at some refineries in South Africa and reduced operational capacity of the Durban-Gauteng fuel pipeline. Government rescued the situation by tapping into its own strategic reserves, squeezing through minimal supplies from Mozambique and pressing South Africa for more fuel. The crises have added impetus to the government's intentions of diversifying the country's fuel sources and routes as stated in NDP 10.