Minister Kapala confirms over one million litres of diesel spilled, assures of adequate stock to forestall scarcity

Energy Minster, Peter Kapala, has assured the nation that the more than one million litres of Low Sulphur spillage from the ruptured Tazama pipeline will have no immediate impact on the country’s supply.

Kapala said the current 52.8 million litres of Low Sulphur diesel in storage is adequate to keep operations of Tazama, while the damaged pipeline is worked on.

On Tuesday, the contractor, while grading the road, reportedly ruptured Tazama pipelines causing serious damage to the pipeline and spilling of over a million litres of gas oil.

In an official statement from Tazama Pipelines Limited, it was estimated that operations would resume by Wednesday on completion of repair works and environmental clean-up.

However, Kapala noted that the pipeline which got damaged on Tuesday would commence operations immediately after the repairs were completed.

He sent an assurance in a statement on Wednesday that there would be no disruptions in the supply of Low Sulphur diesel.

Read more: Tazama pipeline reportedly spills over one million litres of low sulphur gasoil, as ‘contractor’ blamed for damage

“I wish to re-assure the public that the dull repairs works will be completed by the end of day. Afterwards, environmental clean-up works and site installation will commence.

“In view of the foregoing I wish to commend Tazama pipelines management for the quick response to the incidence and professionalism exhibited in addressing the emergency situation. I also wish to thank the Tanzania authority for securing the site in order to ensure safety of the community in the vicinity of the incidence,” Kapala said.

He said preliminary estates indicated that about 1.0 million litres of Low Sulphur diesel may have spilled.

This, he said, represented about 0.9 percent stage points of the stock of Low Sulphur diesel in storage in Dar-es-Salaam and thus will not significantly impact the supply of the product to the Zambian market.

“In addition to this, the product being transported through the pipeline is insured against such losses. Other costs such as costs of repair, mobilisation of man power and equipment, supervisory and administrative costs will be worked out after repairs are completed and demobilisation is done,” Kapala said.

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