LIBERIA – Conex Petroleum has brought into the country 1000 metric tons of jet-A1 fuel from the Ivory Coast through the Lugatuo borders.
Our reporter who is in Nimba saw several tankers conveying the fuel from the borders to the Roberts International Airport.
Reliable sources say Conex made an emergency contact in the neighboring Ivory Coast to have the jet fuel brought to Monrovia to avert the complete shutdown of planes coming to Liberia because of the scarcity of the commodity.
Our sources disclosed jet fuel has been running short in the country for some time now and that further delay could cause a total shutdown of planes flying to Liberia. Our sources stated that it takes several weeks to ship fuel by sea, thus prompting the emergency transport from Ivory Coast by road to mitigate the problem.
According to information, as of last weekend, several gallons of the product have already been brought into the country.
Conex Petroleum sought the approval of the Ministry of Commerce, the Revenue Agency, and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, according to the documents in our possession.
Getting Jet fuel into the country has been a major issue in recent months, and the latest trucking from Ivory Coast may possibly mitigate the jet-A1 fuel shortage in the country.
In recent times, airlines have been complaining of either shortage of jet-A1 fuel or the quality of the product available in the country. Efforts made by Smart News to speak with Conex on the issue failed. Read details in our special report later.