First petrol, now diesel rationed in Eritrea

ASMARA, Nov 1 (AFP) — Fuel rationing in the Horn of Africa state of Eritrea, which began in mid-October with petrol, has been extended to diesel, it emerged on Monday.

“Since the end of last week, diesel has also been rationed and reserved for diplomats and the government,” a UN official in the capital, Asmara, said.

“The UN does not get coupons. We have to use the reserves we have in Adi Guadad” a town near Asmara, he added.

The manager of an Asmara fuel station who asked not to be identified said that, aside for supplies allowed to the government and diplomats, “taxi drivers are allowed 25 litres of fuel a week”.

Neither Energy Minister Tesfai Gebreselassie nor the general manager of the Petroleum Corporation of Eritrea, Tesfai Zecarias, were available for comment on Monday.

When petrol was rationed in mid-October Information Minister Ali Abdu said the move was due to increasing prices on the world market.