BRAZZAVILLE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A severe fuel shortage that has been experienced across Brazzaville, Republic of Congo's capital, for the last one week has made it difficult for the people and goods to move from one point to another, according to the local media.

    "The situation could persist further because a note signed Monday by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons is asking us, as station managers, not to serve more than ten liters of petrol to each vehicle," said a service station manager in the capital.

    "We do not understand the real reasons behind this fuel shortage. There are no stocks at the depot of the Common Logistics Company (SCLOG) from where we normally ship supplies to our stations," said the manager, adding that the situation had forced transport operators to hike fares.

    In fuel stations across the capital, at any time of the day or night, there are long lines of cars waiting for their turn to get the elusive supply, said one motorist, who complained that "authorities were not doing enough to address the situation."

    "I spent the night here in the hope that a late delivery would arrive, but nothing occurred until this morning. This does not make sense because our country is a producer of oil," an agitated taxi driver was quoted as saying, adding that "the situation was affecting his business adversely."

    In the few service stations where there is fuel, ugly scenes of skirmishes have ensued and the authorities have been force to send police and gendarmerie units to intervene and calm the situation before getting out of hand, according to a number of eyewitnesses.

    Drivers of buses, taxi operators and individuals are scrambling to be served, said one eyewitness, adding that the fact that "these service stations have just between 5,000 and 10,000 liters at anyone given time had made the situation even worse."

    "This shortage is having a serious impact on the daily lives of people who cannot move easily. At the bus station, they wait for hours before finding a bus heading to the desired destination, as many buses are cutting their journeys midway to save on fuel," said one commuter.

    The situation, according to many commuters, has forced tax operators in the capital to devise new innovative ways in a bid to maximize on both fuel and revenues.

    "The shortage has led to the emergence of a new practice where taxis are transporting two or four customers at any given time in order to maximize on fuel," said one Brazzaville commuter, who added that prices had also gone up since the beginning of the shortage.