France: planes from Martinique and Guadeloupe lack kerosene

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. But the situation is in the process of being resolved, according to several concordant sources. A “shortage” of kerosene alert was launched at the end of March in Martinique and Guadeloupe, due to the war in Ukraine, but also to the resumption of flights to the Antilles and the Caribbean, while health restrictions are easing. The planes in the departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe were affected by this lack. These supply difficulties are “temporary”, assured the prefecture of Guadeloupe. But they disrupt the management of fuel stocks in the two islands of the French West Indies. According to an airport source, pilots are advised to “carry extra fuel on departure”. “For the regional, it is more complicated”, certain planes having to “perform additional fuels in other islands”, where difficulties in finding kerosene have also been noted, still according to the same source. It is therefore the Société Anonyme de Raffinerie des Antilles (Sara) which is responsible for drawing on its stocks to supply fuel to planes in Guadeloupe and Martinique, while waiting for a boat loaded with kerosene which must arrive and resolve the situation by Tuesday, April 19 .The refinery, which receives crude oil, produces the fuel stocks that Guadeloupe needs: diesel, unleaded and kerosene for travel and fuel oil to produce the electricity that powers the island. However, the risk of a shortage of fuel oil, and therefore of electricity, has not yet been proven, we say to SARA, where we are still wondering about lasting solutions to be found. if this unprecedented situation were to last. With AFP