By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ivorian authorities have agreed to deliver at least 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel monthly to Guinea, following a fire outbreak at the country’s main fuel depot recently, a local media agency in Ivory Coast announced on Wednesday.
“Ivory Coast has undertaken to deliver 50 million litres of petrol per month to Guinea,” said a journalist from Radio Television Ivoirienne (RTI), without specifying how long this shipment will last.
At least 24 people died and 454 were injured in the December 18 blast in Guinea’s capital, Conakry. The fire thereafter took nine days to be brought under control.
RTI report says Guinea’s Finance Minister, Moussa Cisse met with Ivorian Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, in Abidjan on Wednesday.
Arising from their meeting, an MoU is expected to be signed before the first shipment is lifted.
Guinea needs at least 70 million litres of petrol a month to feed its market.
It resumed fuel distribution on Saturday but imposed a limit of 25 litres per car and 5 litres per two- or three-wheel vehicles.
The country had faced acute shortage of fuel following the incident, a development that nearly brought the economy to a standstill.
Protesters last week who demanded immediate return of fuel to the petrol stations had clashed with the security forces.
