With a background of extensive power cuts, lasting to over 12 hours at times in certain areas and regions, and the occurance of several blackouts, Brega Oil Marketing Company announced that the tanker ECOMAR GIRONDE docked at the oil terminal in Benghazi yesterday.
Brega is the National Oil Corporation subsidiary charged with importing and distributing Libya's fuel and gas needs.
This newest announcement by Brega of the docking of a fuel tanker at a Libyan port is the latest in a series of docking announcements at Zawia, Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi ports over the last few weeks.
The ongoing nationwide power cuts and the violence in the city of Zawia have contributed to the formation of queues at petrol stations in Western Libya.
The tanker is carrying approximately 17,000 metric tons of gasoline, in preparation for unloading operations.
The company explained that the tanker's arrival is part of the approved nationwide supply programme, contributing to bolstering reserves and ensuring the continued supply of fuel to the market.
The significance of the constant announcements by Brega of the arrival of fuel tankers at various Libyan ports reflects the country's shortage of fuel storage tanks and a strategic fuel reserve.
Any delay of the docking of a fuel tanker is easily reflected and manifested in fuel shortages and petrol station queues.
The Brega announcements are intended to assuage people's fears and avoid petrol queues. Petrol queues have sparked off clashes, including armed clashes, in the past which the authorities fear could spiral into wider unrest.
The drone attacks last week on the Zawia Oil Refinery has destroyed one fuel storage tank, reducing Libya's fuel storage capacity even more.
This has introduced even more inflexibility in Libya's fuel import and logistics system and made it even more vulnerable to any fuel delivery delays.
