Northern fuel shortage addressed

The mines and energy minister, Obeth Kandjoze, has commended Engen for the N$62 million fuel depot it has established at Ondangwa, which is expected to solve the fuel shortage that is usually experienced in the north during peak seasons. The northern regions usually experience a fuel shortage during April, August and November, December and January due to high demand. Kandjoze, who was speaking at the depot's official opening on Friday, said in the past the region used to receive fuel from the Tsumeb depot. He called on fuel suppliers to attend to the fuel need of the Kavango and Zambezi regions that are served from the Grootfontein depot. “The step taken by Engen is commendable. This region is huge, but used to be served from the Tsumeb depot and the demand was just very high, with shortages experienced during April, August and December. This depot will not only serve local customers, but also from the neighbouring countries,” Kandjoze said. Kandjoze said if a fuel depot was established in the Kavango or Zambezi regions it could also supply fuel to Angola, Zambia and Botswana, which are all landlocked countries and it would be a good investment. Engen managing director Nangula Hamunyela said with the introduction of the 1.6-million-litre Engen fuel depot at Ondangwa, the problem of fuel shortages in the northern regions during festive seasons would be something of the past. She said the depot would supply 17 service stations in the Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Omusati regions and even in Angola. “With this depot we will assure that no point will run out of fuel in December anymore,” Hamunyela said. She added that they were committed to supplying fuel of excellent quality. The governor of the Oshana Region commended Engen for choosing Ondangwa for their fuel depot since the town is strategically located and can enable them reach out to their targeted customers. “Ondangwa town is strategically located at the centre of commercial activities in relation to Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions. In this regard, I congratulate the Ondangwa town council for having developed the necessary bulk urban services infrastructure and availing the land for this industrial development activity of Ondangwa Fuel Depot,” said Kashuupulwa. Ondangwa mayor Paavo Amwele said Ondangwa has everything that investors need to make a successful investment. He said the town has a railway, an airport and it is located in the centre of the northern regions with close proximity to the populous Angolan market and a willing population that is willing to work. “These are all facts that we cannot ignore that make Ondangwa a very unique investment destination in the north, and facts speak volumes. We in Ondangwa strongly believe that the true economic development of this town will only be achieved through strong private investments, which of course can be supplemented by government or public investment,” Amwele said. He said the Ondangwa council wanted the town to be the engine of industrialisation and sustainable development in the north-central regions.ILENI NANDJATO

Northern fuel shortage addressed

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-07

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Northern fuel shortage addressed

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-07

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