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| Tanker at SPM |
The time it takes to discharge oil at Dar es
Salaam Port has been slashed by over 50 per cent, thanks to the commencement of
the Single Point Mooring (SPM) system.
This ushers in a new hope of sustainable fuel reserves in
Tanzania.
Elaborating, Mr Andrew Matillya of SPM told The Citizen
yesterday that it now takes just between four and five days to offload fuel
from a ship carrying between 60,000 and 100,000 tonnes of fuel under the SPM
system.
“Things have improved tremendously and as we go, we hope we
will do even better…we are confident that the current smooth supply of fuel in
the country is here to stay and intermittent fuel shortages in Tanzania are now
a thing of the past,” said Mr Mjinja.
PIC was established in September 2010 under the Petroleum
Act for the purpose of coordinating all issues pertaining to the bulk
procurement of oil.
“As oil importers, we are confident that with SPM our trade
will improve as it will attract landlocked countries to use the Dar es Salaam
port hence increase clients,” said Mr Mjinja.
The SPM is an offshore-anchored loading buoy that serves as
a mooring point that interconnects tankers loading or offloading gas or fluid
products.
Tanzania has been losing Sh40 billion ($24.6m) per month in
the past eight months as a result of the inefficiency of the oil jetty located
at Dar es Salaam port.
Mr Mjinja noted that, with the SPM the country will have
abundant fuel supply which in turn will bring fuel costs down in the country.
Early in October, Tanzania Ports Authority spokesman
Franklin Mziray said that the KOJ, which has a capacity to receive less than
40,000 dwt, will continue to receive small vessels carrying all types of oil,
except diesel which is ordered in huge volumes.
Source: The Citizen, www.thecitizen.co.tz,
reported by by Veneranda Sumila in Dar es salaam
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