Mauritius buying Saudi fuel after court ban on Indian supplies

Mauritius has started buying fuel from Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil firm, Saudi Aramco, after a court ordered a ban on Indian fuel supplies following a dispute between Mauritius and a shipping firm, Reuters reported.

An Indian court had ordered a ship loaded with fuel from Indian oil refiner Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), long-time supplier of fuel to Mauritius, to stay in port until the Mauritian government settles an outstanding $120 million payment to Mauritian-based shipper Betamax over a contract dispute.

MRPL exports about 1.2 million tons of refined fuels to Mauritius every year.

On Dec.7, Mauritian Trade Minister Ashit Gungah reassured his people and economic operators that the country has sufficient stock of fuel and supplies would be enough to meet demand until January 2018.

He told reporters that a first tanker is expected in the country during the weekend and two more tankers will arrive next week, while a fourth tanker is due by mid-December. 

“Other friendly countries have also accepted to help Mauritius,” he added.