Eswatini plans to establish a strategic oil reserve in the aftermath of recent disruptions to fuel supplies experienced during the festive season, the government said Monday.Commenting on long queues experienced in the capital Mbabane a few weeks ago, a government spokesperson said the kingdom was supporting oil companies to source fuel from fellow Southern African Customs Union (SACU) members and non-SACU supply sources “to enhance security of fuel supply for the economy of Eswatini.”  

“Government appreciates the efforts made by all the oil companies in supplying fuel to the Kingdom of Eswatini and continues to forge ahead with plans for the development of a strategic oil reserve facility that will cushion the country during times of fuel supply disruptions,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The urgency of establishing a strategic reserve facility comes in the wake of fuel shortages experienced in Mbabane and other parts of Eswatini at the end of 2022 into early 2023.

According to the spokesperson, there was a supply bottleneck after one oil company encountered logistical challenges, a development that piled pressure on service stations operated by other fuel firms. 

“This particular company experienced delays where they source fuel and this situation then put pressure on the other oil companies that had fuel and they had to stretch their supplies.”