BUSINESS NEWS
W Cape farmers need fuel
Posted Wed, 14 Dec 2005
The shortage of diesel fuel in rural areas of the Western Cape could have a catastrophic effect on fruit harvesting, the province's agriculture MEC Cobus Dowry warned on Tuesday.
In a letter to SA Petroleum Industry Association director Colin McClelland, he said organised agriculture had asked him to plead for "urgent attention" to areas where the shortage was affecting farming operations.
Some farming areas were now finishing fruit harvesting and producers were transporting various fruits to markets and processing plants, he said.
"They are however now severely hampered by the diesel shortage which could have the undesired consequence of huge amounts of fruit being stockpiled and not reaching the markets or plants for processing or cooling.
"This might have catastrophic results for farmers and the broader farming communities in the rural areas, already burdened by drought conditions, thus affecting the local economies."
He said it was
his understanding that Sapia was doing everything possible to alleviate the fuel shortage.
"But I have been requested to make a special appeal to you to do everything possible to assist in making diesel available to farmers especially in the Piketberg and Malmesbury areas where there is almost no diesel available," he said.
The Chevron refinery in Cape Town said in a statement on Tuesday morning although it was now producing and supplying diesel, it would be rationing the product while reserve stocks were being built up.
The situation would be reviewed on Thursday and a decision taken on whether rationing could be lifted.
Sapa
| 
