Overview

For information on Central African Republic Fuel contact details, please see the following link:

4.2.5 Central African Republic Fuel Provider Contact List

www.total.com/fr/en-republique-centrafricaine

www.tradexcentrafriquesa.com

The Central African Republic is not an oil producer. The country relies entirely on importation to satisfy its domestic demand for fuel and other oil related products, which is estimated around 100,000cbm/year or 80,000 metric tons/year. In comparison to the annual demand, available oil storage capacity in the country is estimated at 48,000cbm (or 38,400 metric tons), which is quite good. The import, storage and distribution of petroleum products were privatized in 1999. Since then, the oil sector has been dominated by three companies:

SOCASP (Société Centrafricaine de Stockage de Produits Pétroliers) , a joint Company between the Central African government (51%), Total (25%), Tradex (15%) and others (9%), actually replaced the former SOGAL (Société de Gestion des Actifs Pétroliers)  and is exclusively in charge of the importation and storage of oil products in the country.

Total Centrafrique and Tradex Centrafrique, are in charge of the commercialisation of oil products, while Tri-Star is dedicated only to MINUSCA operation.

Total has the largest share of the market, with filling stations in all main towns. Tradex, a Cameroonian company, has five filling stations in Bangui and is present in Baoro and Damara.

The Central African Republic relies entirely on oil importation to satisfy the domestic demand. The oil import to the country is done through two corridors. The main corridor is from Brazzaville along the rivers Ubangui and Congo. This corridors accounts for 80% of the importation of the country and is active during the rainy season only (June to January). The second corridor is through Cameroon and it accounts for only 20% and cannot exceed this limit (according to a law voted by the parliament). The import through Cameroon takes place during the dry season. But, in case of unexpected increase of the demand, the additional quantity can be imported through Douala, without any limitation. This is actually the case for aviation fuel.

SARPD-OIL, a Congolese fuel provider has only three stations in Bangui which are not operating since January 2018 due to technical problems.

In mid-June 2018, Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, faced a fuel problem. This is a regular problem due to the low flow of the Ubangi River. The origin of this crisis is the sanitation of the Ubangi River and compliance with the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding concerning the maintenance of waterways of common interest and the Cémac / DRC Code of Inland Navigation of December 1999. There are long queues at service stations in Bangui, resulting in an increase in price of fuel and also in an increase in price of transport. A crisis that hinders economic and other activities.. The low water level of Ubangui does to allow to rise the number of barges of the Central African Society of River Transport (SOCATRAF) with the petroleum products already ordered. Between June and July of each year, transport resumes on Ubangui after several months of interruption.

Fuel Pricing

The price of fuel is not the same throughout the country. The lowest price is observed in Bangui where the main fuel depots are located. Outside Bangui, the price depends on the distance.

It should be mentioned that the price of fuel also depends on the situation of international market, although local market is sometimes subsidized by the government. Current fuel prices observed in Bangui filling stations are as follows:

Seasonal Variations 

Fuel Transportation

There are two main fuel depots in the country. The biggest one is in Kolongo, on the Ubangui River, with a total of 14 tanks representing a capacity of 45,000 m³. Actually, this quantity is sufficient to cover the needs of a 6-month-consumption. Salo, located on the Sangha River, is another major depot with a storage capacity of 3 500 m³, however it is no longer operational.
Another depot is located at the international airport in Bangui with seven tanks for a total storage capacity of 300 m³. The replenishment of that depot is under the responsibility of SOCASP but the retailing of fuel to aircraft operators is managed by TOTAL.

Fuel supply is done by tank trucks (tankers) throughout the country. It should, however, be recalled that 80% of fuel import into the country is transported on barges from Kinshasa along the rivers Congo and Ubangui, whereas the remaining 20% is done with tank trucks through Cameroon. Rationing system can be introduced at fuel stations at a request by the government and/or fuel providers.

Standards, Quality and Testing