MORE than two million litres of petrol arrived in the country yesterday in Government’s effort to control the shortage of the commodity.
And Government has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products across the country, saying there are adequate stocks of diesel.
Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga said in an interview yesterday that more than 28 trucks carrying 980,000 litres of petrol were cleared at Nakonde border post and offloaded the commodity in Ndola.
Mr Konga said another 28 trucks which came through Chirundu border offloaded more than 980,000 litres of petrol in Lusaka Province.
“So far, more than 56 trucks carrying petrol have been cleared at both borders and we are expecting more trucks to be cleared today to ease the petrol shortage,” Mr Konga said.
He said Indeni refinery yesterday offloaded 300,000 litres of petrol on the market.
Mr Konga urged members of the public not to panic and said the situation is expected to normalise by today.
“I can assure Zambians that things will normalise today because Government is doing everything possible to arrest the situation,” he said.
Mr Konga said Government is expected to import 30 million litres of petrol and that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are expected to import 11 million litres.
Government has since suspended the 25 per cent import duty imposed on OMCs to enable them speed up the supply of petrol.
And Mr Konga has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products, saying the only commodity which is in short supply is petrol.
“All the petroleum products except petrol are in excess supply, including diesel,” Mr Konga said.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted yesterday at most filling stations in Lusaka revealed that petrol is still in short supply.
Some managers at some filling stations said they were expecting enough stocks to be offloaded by evening.
“We are expecting petrol tonight (last night) and we are hopeful that the situation will normalise,” one manager said.
And Energy Regulations Board (ERB) acting executive director, Lukonde Mfula says no filling station is hoarding petrol.
Mr Mfula said all the filling stations inspected are selling all the stocks of petrol in their possession.
“All the filling stations across the city are selling what they have…no filling station has been found hoarding petrol,” Mr Mfula said.
Last Saturday, Mr Konga directed the ERB to conduct a random dipping survey in filling stations to ascertain if they are hoarding petrol.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I’ll resign if there’s fuel shortage, says Mumba “I’ll resign if there’s fuel shortage, says Mumba
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thursday, June 11, 2009 12:39:24 PM
MINISTRY of Energy permanent secretary Peter Mumba yesterday pledged to resign if the current delayed docking of the 90,000 metric tonnes of feedstock from Independent Petroleum Group (IPG) of Kuwait leads to a fuel shortage in the country. And Mumba said the next consignment of feedstock was expected to dock at the port in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on Monday next week after bad weather at sea delayed its importation from Kuwait.
THIS IS THE KIND OF ZAMBIANS WE HAVE- THEY SAY THINGS THEY DONT MEAN! MINISTRY of Energy permanent secretary Peter Mumba
Does this guy know Zambia consumes 600,000 ltrs of petrol per day? 2 million wont last a week!!!!
and we are waiting for Mumba’s resignation letter
where are our strategic planners mu boma ? Nabalyamo !
we would like to know how much this current shortage has cost GRZ. oohh i forgot GRZ are making a killing by fuel in Zambia being the most expensive in the region, that they dont care how much they lose, it is the citizens who have to pay.
Hey, what shortage are you talking about go to chalals (plunderers compound )there is a fillinfg station woth gas ala day. no ques
Peter Mumba has jsut reisgned, they are lying about fuel coming into the country , expect atleast a wek of no gas.
The importers are going to mint!!!!! Zambia the real Africa!!! No accountability!! Damn our country
Am sure you now see how much zambia needs the Oil Refinery. As a landlocked country we just need to run our own Refinery because fuel demand is high and we cant satisfy the market through import by road, impossible. Pump money in to Indeni Oil Refinery and we will never have any fuel shortage.
This is the result of mediocrity in gvt. How could they not forsee this? We are now also paying for having a Zimbabwean as president.
Zambians have been taken for a ride for a long time now, i know this is all RB’s tricks.play them well my dear or else they will backfire. we dont have fuel so let mumba resign
How does he resiggn?.The situation then In june is different from the opne prevailing.
yapangilapo nashimbi efyo fyalefwaya!
bushe kuti asha kapuna kalowa kwati katwishi
I am waiting for vocal NOGs to call for demos over fuel and resignation of Konga and Mumba, This is the issue we need them for because it is bitting all of us poor or rich and they can be sure of our total support.