Avgas shortage eases, operators still nervous

THE local aviation community has decided to investigate the factors that led to the recent shortage of aviation fuel in Namibia and make recommendations on how to avert a repeat of this situation in the future.

The operators of small piston-engine aircraft that use the fuel known as Avgas have been hard hit by a regional shortage since the beginning of this year, and many have had to ground their fleets. The situation has improved in recent weeks after the arrival of 100 000 litres of Avgas.The shortage of Avgas mostly affects local tour operators, who are the major owners of small aircraft, and has serious implications for the tourism industry, which is one the country’s major economic drivers.The Aviation Industry Association of Namibia (AviaNam) is said to be forming a commission to look into the Avgas supply problem.The association’s members are calling for the reintroduction of strategic fuel reserves to stave off another shortage.Storage facilities in Walvis Bay were closed sometime last year.Speaking to The Namibian last week, the Managing Director of Desert Air, Thys Rall, said his company would want to see AviaNam working together with National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia and oil companies to avert a repeat of this year’s crisis.He said although they had recently received Avgas in ample quantities, there were still no assurances of what to expect next.He added that business had slowed because some tourists had cancelled their bookings due to the Avgas shortage.In a number of cases, damages claims had been filed against the tour operators, he said.Although not wanting to point fingers at any organisation or individuals, Rall said “people should take responsibility for their incompetence”.”We want to be assured of a constant fuel supply and if we are serious about tourism in Namibia, then more should be done and we have to give tourists what they paid for,” said Rall.Owen Sivertsen, Director of Scenic Air, echoed Rall’s sentiments, saying the transporting of Avgas by road from South Africa was also adding costs, and called for strategic reserves to be built up.Although his company has resumed flights, Sivertsen said more had to be done in terms of planning, as there was still no Avgas in some parts of the country that tourists wanted to visit.Currently, Avgas can be found in main towns including Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Keetmanshoop.Sivertsen said the Avgas shortage also had negative spin-off effects for NamPort, maintenance people and private fuel distributors, as they were all out of business when tour operators stopped flying last month.One of the country’s major suppliers of Avgas, BP Namibia, has been able to service customers after receiving nearly 100 000 litres of Avgas in the last couple of weeks.BP Namibia’s spokesperson, Esther Hoveka, said her company would be getting 50 000 litres a week until the situation improves at the Durban refinery.Oil companies in the southern African region have banded together to source supplies from overseas until the refinery in Durban gets back online.It is expected to be back in full production by July.Last year’s closure of the Durban refinery to upgrade to cleaner fuel technology affected fuel supplies to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.The situation has improved in recent weeks after the arrival of 100 000 litres of Avgas.The shortage of Avgas mostly affects local tour operators, who are the major owners of small aircraft, and has serious implications for the tourism industry, which is one the country’s major economic drivers.The Aviation Industry Association of Namibia (AviaNam) is said to be forming a commission to look into the Avgas supply problem.The association’s members are calling for the reintroduction of strategic fuel reserves to stave off another shortage.Storage facilities in Walvis Bay were closed sometime last year.Speaking to The Namibian last week, the Managing Director of Desert Air, Thys Rall, said his company would want to see AviaNam working together with National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia and oil companies to avert a repeat of this year’s crisis.He said although they had recently received Avgas in ample quantities, there were still no assurances of what to expect next.He added that business had slowed because some tourists had cancelled their bookings due to the Avgas shortage.In a number of cases, damages claims had been filed against the tour operators, he said.Although not wanting to point fingers at any organisation or individuals, Rall said “people should take responsibility for their incompetence”.”We want to be assured of a constant fuel supply and if we are serious about tourism in Namibia, then more should be done and we have to give tourists what they paid for,” said Rall.Owen Sivertsen, Director of Scenic Air, echoed Rall’s sentiments, saying the transporting of Avgas by road from South Africa was also adding costs, and called for strategic reserves to be built up.Although his company has resumed flights, Sivertsen said more had to be done in terms of planning, as there was still no Avgas in some parts of the country that tourists wanted to visit.Currently, Avgas can be found in main towns including Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Keetmanshoop.Sivertsen said the Avgas shortage also had negative spin-off effects for NamPort, maintenance people and private fuel distributors, as they were all out of business when tour operators stopped flying last month.One of the country’s major suppliers of Avgas, BP Namibia, has been able to service customers after receiving nearly 100 000 litres of Avgas in the last couple of weeks.BP Namibia’s spokesperson, Esther Hoveka, said her company would be getting 50 000 litres a week until the situation improves at the Durban refinery.Oil companies in the southern African region have banded together to source supplies from overseas until the refinery in Durban gets back online.It is expected to be back in full production by July.Last year’s closure of the Durban refinery to upgrade to cleaner fuel technology affected fuel supplies to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.