GOVERNMENT has assured the nation that there is enough fuel stocks in Zambia, contrary to some media reports.
Ministry of Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Charity Mwansa said there was no need to panic as there were enough fuel stocks in the country.
Ms Mwansa said the purported fuel shortage being experienced at some filling stations was as a result of distribution issues between Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and their dealers.
“I would therefore like to take this opportunity to urge all the OMCs to ensure that they enhance their logistics with a view to putting in place effective distribution measures of fuel to their dealers using distribution outlets in Ndola and Lusaka which have enough fuel stocks between them,” she said.
She said the inability to build sufficient stocks of fuel strategic petroleum reserves was attributed to problems recently experienced by Indeni Oil Petroleum refinery which had led to its intermittent shut downs.
The intermittent shut downs that had rocked Indeni recently were mainly due to failures in some of its key equipment in the plant in Ndola.
“These problems are expected to be resolved when the refinery undergoes its scheduled closure for maintenance in October 2013 for a period of 40 days. During this time, major works are expected to be carried out in order to overhaul the refinery,” she said.
Ms Mwansa said her ministry had already put in place measures to ensure the fuel deficit that would be created by the closure of the Indeni refinery plant would be bridged through importation.
She said in order for the interventions to run smoothly, Government needed players in the supply chain to take their respective roles seriously.
She said Government, through her ministry, was committed to ensuring the security of fuel supply in the country and that any actors in the supply chain who would be found wanting would not be spared.
Ms Mwansa said Government was cognisant of the importance of energy as the engine of the national economic activity and as such it always worked towards ensuring adequate supply of fuel.
She cautioned motorists and members of the public to desist from jumping to conclusions immediately one dealer ran out of supply.
Its easier said than done. We don’t need assurances, what we need is fuel at filling stations. My party is preoccupied with 2016 elections and tearing one another apart without considering what is happening on the ground. m/meal & fuel prices went up, then a shortfall, western is buying 25kg bunga at 90pin. very soon Zesco is increasing tariffs & load shade again. stop too much talk and act
Paya Fyonse(PF) Government,always doing things by:’ Management by Crisis’.It’s now:Shortage this,shortage that- ARVs,Baby Vaccine,Fuel,Water etc.This is the agony of having CNP with his immoral goons like Kabimba for sure.Please God,free us from these BUFI Characters.
What does CNP stand for?
Its time PF admitted they have failed. If we have fuel issues even in Ndola where Indeni is, what hope is there for the rest of the country? In addition, the planned maintenance is not even on yet and there are shortages, what will happen when Indeni is closed for maintenance? I am the head of the house at home. Whatever happens, my children need mealie meal and not excuses of how Shoprite is having challenges with National Milling. Give us fuel and stop excuses on why you are failing. Everyone else is always at fault. PF is is never wrong???
The statement by the PS for Ministry of Energy is an admission that the PF has problems in ensuring the availability of enough fuel stocks in the country. There is a shortage of fuel and the PF must admit that they have failed. When in the opposition, the PF said all sorts of things but now it is on them and they have failed lamentably. It appears the PF does not think before doing anything and as such everything is backfiring. One wonders whether there is consultation within cabinet before arriving at some decisions. The PF rule has been so disastrous that the electorate have remained buffled at what they put into office. The president appears as if he is the cause of all this confusion because he has never informed citizens the direction the country is taking.
PF ever promising, when are you going to deliver? 5 years is almost over & you are likingly to be kicked out.
Seeing is believe. Everything else is either just speculation or lies.