Cyclone Damage Halts Trafigura Unit’s Mozambique Fuel Terminal

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Puma Energy and at least one other company halted operations at their fuel terminals in the Mozambican port city of Beira because of damage caused by Cyclone Idai.

Beira, home to more than half a million people, bore the brunt of the storm that made landfall on March 15 and caused flooding that’s left at least 202 dead in Mozambique, and 98 more in Zimbabwe. Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has said the toll may top 1,000, which would make it the deadliest flood in Africa this century.

Puma, a unit of the commodities trader Trafigura Beheer NV, said its terminal suffered damage in the storm, though there were no leakages.

The company is “urgently assessing the extent of the damage to our facilities and have implemented our business continuity measures,” Itumeleng Matlaila, head of marketing for Africa, said in an emailed statement.

Vivo Energy Plc’s fuel terminal at the port also remains shut, a spokesman said.

Beira is a key port for central Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Damage to the harbor, operated by Rotterdam-based Cornelder Holding BV, was limited, the company said in a statement.

The storm flooded the control room for the fuel pipeline that links Beira to Zimbabwe, cutting supplies. The country’s fuel situation is “under control” as it has enough stocks, Energy Minister Joram Gumbo said Tuesday.

Source: Bloomberg Business News