New tanker fleet boosts Swaziland’s fuel security

MBABANE – Swaziland Railway has taken delivery of 20 tank wagons as the country moves ahead with plans to create a strategic oil reserve. Landlocked Swaziland imports all its petrol products via South Africa. Each tank wagon has a capacity of 53 000 litres. It has been 30 years since the company added to its tanker fleet that numbered 31 wagons. An additional 20 may be purchased as a national strategic petrol reserve is created that will cushion supply shocks if circumstances should temporarily halt the importation of oil. “I am delighted that Swaziland Railway has created capacity of 1 060 000 litres that can be delivered at once with the 20 fuel wagons. The railway plays a pivotal role in supplying the country with fuel,” said Minister of Transport Ntuthuko Dlamini at the presentation of the wagons. Harry Nxumalo, chairman of the Swaziland Petroleum Retailers’ Association, told FTW that most of Swaziland’s fuel was imported by rail and taken to petrol company depots at the Matsapha Industrial Estate outside Manzini. From there tanker trucks carry the fuel to retailers. Gideon Mahlalela, CEO of Swaziland Railways, said at the wagon launch: “The total litres of fuel we consume in the country is 200 million a year. 75% of that, or 150 million litres, is conveyed by rail. “The cost of transport from Duran to Matsapha is 33 cents per litre. I still do not understand why people bring fuel by road at 38 cents per litre,” Mahlalela said. Several sites around the country are being considered for the construction of the national petroleum reserve, but rail connectivity would be essential for the location, transport ministry sources told FTW.