Brega says fuel queues are easing, but Libyans still report long lines

Brega Petroleum Marketing Company says fuel queues have eased across Libya, but reports from petrol stations suggest the crisis is far from over.

The company attributed the claimed reduction in congestion to higher daily supply rates, regular tanker movements and unloading operations, and stronger distribution through the Misrata, Tobruk and Zawiya depots. It said the system was operating continuously and that fuel was flowing to stations in all regions.

Brega reported distributing more than 7.21 million litres of petrol and 3.53 million litres of diesel through the Misrata depot. It also transferred more than 1.5 million litres of petrol to Sabha to serve southern Libya. Tobruk distributed about 3.34 million litres of petrol and 590,000 litres of diesel to marketing companies.

At Zawiya, the depot increased stocks by sending petrol toward Tripoli and the south. The tanker GEA also unloaded more than 36.36 million litres of diesel at the Zawiya oil port.

Yet long queues are still being reported in different parts of Libya. Many Libyans are asking where the additional fuel supplies are going, and frustration has intensified after Brega said last week that the crisis would end within a week. The company said the ongoing tanker movements and unloading, pumping and distribution operations showed that the supply system was ready to meet citizens’ needs.