The ministry issued a statement assuring that the provision aims to facilitate the “fair and disciplined” distribution of products derived from petroleum, and asked companies that need to purchase containerized fuel to send a representative with a memorandum and an authorized signature.

Refueling has been a great challenge for months and the situation worsened in mid-October when armed gangs blocked access to the Varreux terminal at the northern exit of the capital.

The lack of supplies forced the closure of health institutions, small and medium-sized companies, schools and other institutions, while banking companies, department stores and the Sunrise Airways airline reduced the hours of attention to the population.

The leader of the gang federation, Jimmy Cherizier, announced last Friday a truce that must be effective until next Thursday, which began the distribution of fuel.

However, the long lines at the pumps, violence and chaos have begun to take their toll. At least two fires happened at gas stations on Tuesday that damaged several vehicles and motorcycles, with authorities linking them to the sale of fuel in tanks.

The Ministry’s measure generated rejection in population sectors that reminded the Government of the need to buy in containers for power generators in a country in which only 30 percent of citizens receive service from the national electricity company.

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