Downstream oil supplying company, Puma Energy is said to be amongst companies that is owed by the embattled copper nickel mine BCL Limited.
Although cagey with details, Head of Puma Energy Africa, Jonathan Molapo admitted to Sunday Standard this past week that Puma Energy Botswana is on the list of BCL creditors and that they will wait and hear how the government is going to resolve the matter.
Quizzed to share further details, Molapo indicated that he could not shed more light as the information regarding their customer is confidential.
He however acknowledged that BCL had problems adding that the appointed liquidator will in due course give guidance on the next step.
“The situation has affected our sales as we do not supply fuel to the mine. If you don’t sell you don’t make money. BCL is not there today but we continue trading our products,” he said.
Molapo is of the view that as a company they will continue to do business in mining as it is an important part of their portfolio. He said Puma Energy has depot in Walvis Bay in Namibia as well as Matola in Mozambique and also supplying Botswana from South Africa. He spoke their good relationship with Botswana Oil Limited Company.
“Fuel spills do happen and we measure them on regular basis and they have not been major ones. Contaminations issues are also measured and are being taken seriously as well as fuel security,” he stated
Meanwhile the international fuel supplier company said it is aggressively penetrating into both mining and retail portfolios amongst its range of businesses.
Molapo said that his company is also going strong in the aviation sector. This is part of the company strategy to avoid putting the eggs in one basket.
In the mining sector, Puma Energy has a five year contract with Debswana Diamond Company supplying fuel to both Jwaneng and Orapa mines for care and maintenance. He said the strategy is to grow the business in Botswana by opening more service stations. Molapo added that aviation is another area where the company has been targeting.
“We are bringing petroleum products from Mozambique supplying Debswana and Puma Energy is the only supplier special diesel to Debswana form Matola,” said Molapo.
Molapo stated that Puma’s market share in Botswana is currently seating at 28 percent adding that the national consumption is seating at about 1.3 billion per year.
“Our competitive advantage is that we have good local people who understand the business very well,” said Molapo.
On the other hand, Puma Energy Botswana General Manager Mahube Mpungwa added that they anticipate growth of about 5 percent next year and that they are much better than competition. He stated that more service stations are being opened in Botswana this year and next year.
