Published on: 04/16/2022 – 09:11
Planes in Martinique and Guadeloupe are suffering from a lack of kerosene. The resumption of flights and the war in Ukraine caused a shortage. However, according to multiple concurring sources, the situation is in the process of being resolved.
Kerosene shortage alerts were raised in late March in Martinique and Guadeloupe over the war in Ukraine but also the resumption of flights to the Antilles and the Caribbean while health restrictions are being eased. Aircraft in the departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe were affected by this shortage.
These supply difficulties are “temporary”, the Guadeloupe Prefecture assured on Saturday 16. But they are disrupting the management of fuel stocks on the two islands of the French West Indies.
According to an airport source, pilots are advised to “carry extra fuel on departure.” “It’s more complicated for the region”, some planes have to “make fuel supplements on other islands” where difficulties have also been found in finding kerosene, still according to the same source.
It is therefore the Société Anonyme de Raffinerie des Antilles (Sara) that is responsible for using its stocks to fuel planes in Guadeloupe and Martinique while awaiting a boat loaded with kerosene to arrive and the situation must solve here Tuesday, April 19th.
The refinery that receives crude oil produces the fuel supplies Guadeloupe needs: diesel, unleaded and kerosene for travel and fuel oil to generate the electricity that powers the island. However, the risk of a shortage of heating oil and therefore electricity has not yet been proven, Let’s say Sara, where we are still thinking about permanent solutions if this unprecedented situation continues.
With AFP