The fuel crisis which hit the country last week could have been caused by diversion of routes by vessels to Mediterranean countries where prices were better, fuel dealers have said.
In a statement released yesterday, the Tanzania Association of Oil Marketing Companies (Taomac) for the first time refuted claims that the fuel crisis was artificial.
Queues were witnessed in many parts of the country especially in Dar es Salaam last week with petrol attendants at most service stations saying they had no fuel.
This followed increasing pressure for fuel dealers in the country to reduce prices in line with global oil price reductions and new pricing system proposed by the Government.
Since over a month and half ago, the global crude oil price has plummeted from a high of $147 a barrel to the current average of $64.
Taomac also said the crisis was a result of "a genuine shortage of the product on the global market" and dismissed reports that some dealers had hoarded petrol for speculative purposes.
"The petrol crisis, which we have experienced recently, is...a genuine shortage of the product in the global market, which invariably impacts the local market and cannot be attributed to hoarding," the association said in the statement.
The association's executive director Salum Bisarara said there were no vessels destined to East African ports because many had been diverted to European and North American countries.
In addition, he attributed the current shortage to "the global scarcity" of unleaded petrol, which led to the dwindling of local stocks.
Mr Bisarara said the shortages were also affecting neighbouring Kenya and Uganda where petrol stations were reportedly dry for three days leaving most motorists stranded especially in major cities.
In Uganda, the situation was compounded by a strike by truckers who were protesting against the deplorable state of the Malaba Customs parking yard and Kenya's abrupt banning of four -axle trucks.
As a result of the crisis in Tanzania, the Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) reportedly conducted a survey to ascertain fuel stock levels at both retail outlets and distribution terminals.
Taomac claimed that the exercise absolved local oil marketing companies of the product hoarding allegations. Mr Bisarara said his association was working closely with Ewura to find lasting solutions to the problem and urged consumers not to panic since the situation was under control.
He said they had anticipated the crisis and made arrangements for chartered vessels to deliver orders to local oil companies.
"These vessels have since started discharging the product at the terminals of oil marketing companies. Distribution to retail outlets will soon commence," he said.
He praised Ewura for enforcing compliance with the new pricing mechanism and pledged to ensure that oil marketing companies regularly provide data on their fuel statuses to avoid a similar crisis.
