By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Country Director TriStar Aviation Fuel, Promise Anagolu, on July 1st, 2024 revealed that the completion of a fuel storage facility at the Cargo side with capacity of 12milion liters will greatly address issues of aviation fuel shortages at Entebbe International Airport.
He noted that to ensure sustainability and continuity of the fuel storage facility, TriStar Aviation fuel group of companies has embarked on training Ugandans who will run the fuel storage facility in future.
While testing the available aviation fuel, Anagolu, said the construction of aviation fuel facility will close gaps related to aviation fuel. He added that in future his company intends to expand the fuel storage facility from 12 million liters to 23 million liters.
“The facility is hoped to address fuel crisis at Entebbe International Airport. We intend to increase the storage facility to the capacity of 23million liters. We have installed ten pipelines to serve all aircrafts that operate at Entebbe International Airport,” he said.
He revealed that their discussions with government are in advanced stages to ensure the Facility begins operations in a few weeks from now.
“We shall ensure there is enough aviation fuel and in the next 5years, we intend to build a fuel jet so that we are able to transport our fuel directly from port Kisumu to Uganda,” he added.
Mr. Anagolu revealed that his fuel company has put in place Security measures to ensure unauthorized persons can’t access aviation fuel from the storage facility.
“We have installed CCTV cameras to ensure nobody steals fuel or accesses the fuel storage facility. We shall ensure the fuel is safe or secure and that nobody abuses it,” he said.
In a month, aircrafts at Entebbe International Airport consume 12milion liters of fuel.
Mr. Anagolu added that as a way of giving back to the community his company has trained locals to run and manage the fuel aviation facility in future.
“We have built capacities of locals to work at the fuel storage facility. We have embarked on training Ugandans to work on the fuel storage facility. We have empowered them with enough skills to enable them manage fuel operations at Entebbe International Airport, “he emphasized.
The General manager fuels at TriStar group of companies, Anil Parri, explained that the fuel storage facility is good for the growth of Entebbe International Airport.
He however, expressed grave concern on the delayed approval of the fuel storage facility by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).
“Our fuel storage facility is ready and only awaits approval from management of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). We don’t know when they will approve it. But once it’s approved we shall invite the president of Uganda to officially commission the facility, “Mr. Anil disclosed.
The inspector of Joint Inspection Group (JIG), Mr. Julius Irimu, pledged to ensure the aircrafts are given quality fuel and that to achieve this, they have trained a team of young people who will ensure the aircrafts consume quality fuel.
