The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has denied that it is pressing the Petroleum Importation Coordinator (PIC) to amend a shortlist of companies to supply fuel under the newly-adopted bulk procurement system. The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, said that there was no favouritism being shown towards Puma Energy (T) Limited or its parent company, Traffigura PTE Limited.
Professor Muhongo said that Tanzania is "done with trickery and cheating in this area". He noted that he has already dissolved the board of the PIC, led by Kwimba legislator Mansoor Shanif Hiran, after it had failed to address the issues which led to fuel shortages in October. “The new board is chaired by the government and has members from the  Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and the private sector,†he added.
According to PIC General Manager Michael Mjinja, neither Puma Energy nor Trafigura would be eligible to provide fuel under the system next year. He told reporters that Puma did not apply, and that Trafigura submitted documentation after the deadline for participation in the programme elapsed. “From this point there is no way the two companies can participate in next year’s fuel supply,†he remarked.