TRANSPORTATION : Run out of petrol for the whole area.

The price of gas has burst out on the parallel market but it was
foreseeable. The price of one liter of gas is now from 6.000 MGF
(0.90 USD) up to 8.000 MGF (1.2 USD) that means nearly the double of
the official price which is 4.200 MGF (0.6 USD). The diesel oil is
MGF 5.000 (0.75 USD) per liter and more than MGF 6.000 (0.90 USD) in
the cities around. However, it is more and more difficult to find
some re-sellors on this “official” black market. Some of
them have constituted some stocks by the beginning of
the crisis in
filling some
tanks in the gas stations. Other have been able to
bring from Toamasina some gas barrels after having delivered
vegetables or any other essential life products.

Both professional organizations, road transports (APTR) and gas
transport companies (APTH) have tossed out on February 26 a last
ultimatum to the Army and to both protagonists in the frame of the
actual political crisis.

They request the barriers raising on the the National Road 2 and 4
which where there in order to stifle economically Antananarivo. If
no, they were ready to solve the problem by themselves.

Without any confirmed number, the profesional organizations of
transportation announce a financial lost of several billions of MGF.
An important distributor of gas announced yesterday that he makes 60%
of his turn-over in the capital. APTR and APTH together had a number
of 3.600 vehicules on road. For passengers transportation, at a
national scale,
the number of vehicles is 45.000 and 20.00
taxis.

Tankers full of gas and other trucks with goods were unable to
reach the capital. ACEM association at the origin of the Brickaville
barrier should be motivated paradoxically by the concern of the
respect of the Constitution in order to stop the demonstrations on
the Place of May 13. The young Ratsiraka supporters have been relayed
by the independent Toamasina area Government who asks in exchange of
the barriers raising that ……the Cental Bank will be re-opened. At
Brickaville location, the passage was free during three days before
being closed again.This allowed to some trucks to deliver gas in the
capital. One breath of oxygen which has delayed the total asphyxia.

On the OMH (Malagasy Office of Hydrocarures) the strategic stock
of gas forecasted to allow the capital be supplied during 21 days is
now reduced to half. The last delivery of diesel gas to Antananarivo
lasted from February the 16th. The Syndicate of Industries companies
(SIM) sets off the alarm bell on the difficulties met by the
economical partners facing this crisis. Starting March, several
companies will be obliged to lay off their staff or to give them
vacations.