Friday, March 29, 2024

President Lungu seeks cheaper oil from Uganda

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President Edgar Lungu with  Ms Jean Kapata and Emmanuel Chenda  and Mr Harry Kalaba at the Bilateral Talks with President Yoweri Museveni Degation at Serina Hotel in Kampala on Friday - Picture  by Eddie Mwanaleza /statehouse.
President Edgar Lungu with Ms Jean Kapata and Emmanuel Chenda and Mr Harry Kalaba at the Bilateral Talks with President Yoweri Museveni Degation at Serina Hotel in Kampala on Friday – Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza /statehouse.
President Edgar Lungu says the discovery of oil in Uganda is an opportunity for Zambia to explore ways of getting cheaper crude oil.

Speaking to journalists at Entebbe International airport before departure for Zambia , the President said among other issues agreed with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was the possibility of getting crude oil cheaply from Uganda through Dar-as-salaam where it can be pumped to Indeni in Ndola.

Zanis reports that the President said the oil discovery in Uganda interested him most because it could greatly benefit Zambia.

Mr Lungu said it was unfortunate that over the years the relations between Zambia and Uganda had become static, resulting in missed opportunities for trade.

President Lungu disclosed that the two countries agreed that a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting be held in Lusaka in October as a way of reviving relations.

The Head of State said the JPC will help cement relations between Zambia and Uganda as the two countries have a lot to learn from each other on account of both being landlocked.

He also indicated that Zambia intends to maximise the utilisation of Lake Tanganyika in order to enhance trade between Zambia and countries in the East African region.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has extended an invitation to President Museveni for a state visit to Zambia.

According to a communique availed to the press by the President’s special assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, the Ugandan President accepted the invitation and will visit Zambia at a date to be communicated later.

And President Lungu has since left Uganda for Zambia after concluding his two-day state visit.

The President’s challenger jet took off from Entebbe International airport at 10:50 local time.

69 COMMENTS

  1. There you go again!

    His Excellency President Lungu demonstrates his talent for Problem Resolution. In contrast the opposition are just mouthing off about economic problems caused by shifts in the Markets.

    HH even criticised His Excellency for ‘Jet setting,’ when in fact we SHOULD be building meaningful relationships with our neighbours which facilitate African Local economic resolutions. We must keep building meaningful and appropriate liaisons and dialogs with Oil rich countries in Africa.

    Shouting problems out rather than prove you are indeed analysts (a word we hear a lot on this site). President Lungu is a good thinker and team bonder; good at the ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ political game with our neighbours. We need to facilitate each other in African…

    • When did you Uganda become a major oil producer, those who still doubt how poor and visionless your president is can pick it from here. The opposition don’t even need to mount a full out campaign because Lungu does it on there behalf. All the need to is travel locally extensively and explain and teach people and capitalise while Lungu is busy globe trotting.

    • Commercial oil production and sale in uganda is still some 5 yrs away by some estimates. The public will more assured if lungu and his bloated cabinet were seen opening factoris and production plants instead of shopping malls.

    • @ Mongoloid Patriot

      Jerk, use your effing head to think:
      a) Ugandan oil and INDENY are NOT compatibile and
      b) How you are going to bring oil crude from Uganda to Zambia? By Road? Or as the cargo on PF Zambia Airways?

      How you can be so effing 5tupid?

    • SO, IS ANGOLA NOW BARRIED? AREN’T WE GOING TO BUY FROM ANGOLA, NOW? ALSO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SAUDI ARABIA OIL DEAL. MMMM! OIL WILL BE VERY CHEAP IN ZAMBIA WITH THESE THREE DEAL!

    • @new born

      Go change your diaper mate! Stuff a comforter in your mouth….(whichever orifice you consider is your mouth). I think some of us would be very surprised at your choice for a mouth.

    • “When ignorance gets started it knows no bounds” Will Rogers
      “The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about”
      “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” Derek Bok
      “The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge.”
      “It is amazing how many people think that they can answer an argument by attributing bad motives to those who disagree with them. Using this kind of reasoning, you can believe or not believe anything about anything, without having to bother to deal with facts or logic.” — Thomas Sowell
      “Never argue with a man whose job depends on not being convinced.” — H.L. Mencken
      “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” –…

    • @ 1.6 Mongoloid Patriot

      Congratulation, such fine education and such 1mbecility in one package!!!
      My compliments. You are proud winner of “Golden Mongoloid” for 2015.
      Bravo!!!

    • @new born

      Just because you say something about others does NOT mean you are RIGHT. Personal insults are tedious. I am NOT mongoloid by any measure. But since you are sooooo educated, why oh why do you NOT understand that being discriminatory to disabled people is unlawful.

      It just looks to me that you UPND chaps are a new breed of criminals. You use the political forum to display ignorant use of your education.

    • Olo cooking oil ilapusana viscosity. So they need to check that Ugandan oil would be able to be processed at Indeni. If it is not spiked crude then kaya mwandi!

    • Look at the photo. Those men are looking so bored (probably thinking of the next short of jameson) while Jean Kapata is acting president.
      Then after the Jameson Kamwendo Munjila talks of Uganda oil that’s long way before production & which he can’t refine.
      Probably he thought by being in Uganda, Obama was going to notice him from neighboring Kenya & invite him over.

    • Look at the photo. Those men are looking so bored (probably thinking of the next shot of jameson) while Jean Kapata is acting president.
      Then after the Jameson Kamwendo Munjila talks of Uganda oil that’s long way before production & which he can’t refine.
      Probably he thought by being in Uganda, Obama was going to notice him from neighboring Kenya & invite him over.

    • @ Mongoloid Abrooad

      Calling you an 1mbecile is actually compliment for ignorant and 5tupid paid individual who has sold his soul for few worthless kwacha.
      You have also courage to call your 1mbecility “opinion”.
      Opinion of certified jerk who in his quest to please his Master is ready to ignore FACTS and instead insults others and create his own reality to justify incompetence, thieving and tribalism of his Masters.
      “Patriot”, my foot. More likely one of those parasites ready to sell Nation to bondage for its own benefit.

  2. This isn’t going to happen any time soon. Furthermore oil is sold at market price transporting it will be cheaper. But Angola will be way cheaper. This in short is political rhetoric. Appease the stupid.

    • It is not ” Appease stupid” but food for thoughts for PF 1mbeciles which believe that elephant can fly and Chikwanda should be praised for selling the future generations in to bondage

    • We can’t just sit and wring our hands in sorrow at our economic milestones.

      Just insulting the gov’t is hardly proof of brain cells, is it? What are your genius solutions to oil and power then….er please NOTE you are not allowed to use infrastructure arguments since you don’t support the borrowing for developing it.

      You are ALL full of WIND. #LunguBestPresidentEver

    • @ patriot

      Good point. Now, how you thing current infrastructure should be developed to secure cheapest of ALL energy, i.e. electricity, oil, coal, hydro……
      Just to consider at this time, year 2015, that oil out of Uganda may be “short-term” solution (now to 2020) poses just three questions:
      Do you know what are you talking about and
      Can you imagine the cost of such investment and
      How many Countries will need to participate?

      Do you want to discuss more infrastructural investments needed to import oil from Uganda which can become operative by 2020?

      Forget politics, let us be serious, no more pie in the sky. But, time and time again, slogans, pies, slogans.

      I wonder. how many people actually know where Uganda is?
      After all, is it in Africa?

      Thanks

    • You know something @parrot, my point is that this is going nowhere. Lungu went to Uganda so he could understand how to mitigate power issues. What does he come with cheap oil fron Uganda how??? Which is Uganda isn’t even ready to supply. But Angola is there and kavindele is building a rallway. I will not praise such.

    • The point is that he demonstrates he is thinking ahead and trying to put out fires, instead of criticising economic failures due to market positions.

      How are HH and Nawakwi going to resolve all these without infrastructure then (since they argue it’s a waste of time)?

  3. @patroit, what problems did lungu go to solve there? He was even left out of the great lakes meetings because they know lungu can’t add any value. By the way lungu says he wants crude oil from uganda. @patroit, does lungu know what type of oil indeni processes? If you can’t get from nearby here in angola, how will u manage that far? That just shows how clueless ECL is. Anyway ati problem solving.

  4. Which route is shorter to get oil from Angola to Ndola? Thru DRC? Using what? Bluetooth or evaporation? Do some of you guys have geography of Zambia and its neighbors?

    From Angola there is no existing infrastructure to transport oil to Zambia while East Africa is connected to Zambia through Lake Tanganyika.

    I think we should have practical criticism not theories. Yes in long term Angola can be a solution not short term.

    • But where’s the oil, this chap is just busy making allowances, and making funny uneducated pronouncements knowing there stupid people like you who are going to fall for it. Lungu sleeps on duty, it doesn’t mean when he wakes up and tells about his dream you should just say Amen.

    • Does Uganda produce oil or its had just been discovered? Is the Uganda oil compatible with indeni. Which oil transporter is prepared to bring it’s massive oil tankers (ship/s) from the high seas, overland or construct one/some on Lake tanganyika to move a paltry 52 cubic metres per month from Uganda to Zambia. Please don’t expose ur ignorance and nativity like your kamwendo munjila Lungu. Shaa!

    • @ 5.4/5 Quest

      If I am not wrong, this is the first time you met 1mbecility on line?

      I am finding it quite hilarious. Members of “intelligentsia” trying to “educate”/”brain-wash” electorate with “daily achievements” of “humble” and “visionary” Dear Leader at work!!!

  5. I congratulate our President His Excellency ECL for being a strategic thinker. Consider this: 1. By building strong long term relationships with ALL our neighbouring counties, he is ensuring that the future generations of Zambia will benefit from an enlarged trade market, logistical support, environmental planning, share of common resources, communications etc these had been neglected by previous leaders esp Sata. 2. Zambia as a land-locked country it makes sense to strengthen its interaction with our neighbours 3. The next Head of State you elect will have an easier job of maintaining ECL’s programmes to date, compared to what ECL was left to correct from SATA’s ignorance of the Rule of Law and common courtesy.

    • @Ted, does the strategic thinking of your president include the debt yoke for the future generations as u say? No wonder he is getting reckless loans coz he wont be there to deal with them. Ati strategic thinker! Yaba!

    • I wish you knew the problem Uganda has concerning the mining of oil in that country. The president of Uganda and the law makers have been fighting who should be owner – selfishness of Museveni
      Zambia is far better getting oil from Angola and establish a new plant to process that type of oil. Angola is near to Zambia than uganda. Secondly, the quantity and type of oil Uganda will be producing is not known to Zambia, neither do the government of Uganda understand the upgrader processing type

    • There is no country in the modern world or corporation that has developed without debt. Only recently Europe re-built its economies after the 2nd World War devastation with massive Marshall Plan debts from USA. The real issue, here, [ do not believe opposition, Post Newspaper or Cartel one-sided level poleconomics] is about prudently managing the national debt relative to the national capital assets being envisaged to be created long term. Proof of this cannot be based on short term results but of yet to be seen long term performance. We do not know the future yet. Without fear or favour or hallucinations of corruption aside, His Excellency ECL appears heading in the right direction, that is clear from level headed observers.

  6. Ugandan oil pouring into Zambia at the click of a finger! When was the infrastructure developed on both ends? Dream on my brother…

  7. Now the president has taken it upon himself to source for oil ….easy money to steal…the lazy bum should be at home reviewing the flawed tender and procurement system we use for aquiring crude oil.

  8. If the criticism is that Ugandan oil is 5 years away, surely it is proof that His a Excellency President Lungu IS a President of vision AND has already a 5 year plan in place!

    Did anyone watch BBC ONE’s interpretation of Africa’s prospects today after President Barack Obama spoke in Kenya. Most of you writing here would have been shocked to tears at the colonialist wall a financial ?Analyst interpreted Africa’s future prospects. He said Africa is believed to be the next development Bloc after China, but I say NEVER, maybe they might improve a little bit, but they will NEVER amount to any world power bloc (words to that effect as I paraphrase).

    Disappointingly, America is offering help in entrepreneurial skills among youth However it’s being offered in connection with…

    • The same analyst then went on to advise that investors stop investing in commodities market in Africa when it was revealed that a major Mining Conglomerate has shut down and fired Miners in SA. The market has had it for a long time and investing in Africa is not advisable.

      Can all the so called intellects on this site understand what Zambia’s prospects really are? We need to stop intellectualising things as it only proves how lacking in vision you are yourself.

      1. If there is no infrastructure to bring this oil over, THAT then affirms the hard effort PF has made to build them. The cost to us is worth it.
      2.President has PROVED he has a vision second to none.

      All of Nawakwi, HH criticism are based on highfaluting (sp) ideology. Pompous and BLIND.

    • You don’t sound too brainy yourself mate!

      After all a human being without brain activity is a dead one, so how come you write 1 liners arguing with the brainless?

      Even your insults are pathetic. We are still waiting for real input to this article than fake intellectuals bullying us.

  9. It always starts and ends with intention, just to be seen to care, after this visit that’ll be the end, you’ll never hear of this oil thing again, kaili they’ve made their travel allowances

  10. Oh AND don’t let’s forget that recently the President commission solar/environmentally sound electricity to shore up ZESCO.

    He is a REALISTIC Doer not a Big Gob like HH who will never be able to demonstrate his Highfalutin mambo jumbo that he keeps spouting to the ‘poor’ #I’mbetterthanyoupleaseletmerule!

  11. @11: At Lungu’s Parrot Abroad would u mind quoting proper references rather vague analysts and Lungu. Suffice to say commodity prices are cyclical. Source: see historical price charts on kitco & LME. 2ndly oil is an extremely complex commodity it just cant be bought like salaula or groceries off a supermarket shelf as u & ur EL seem to hallucinate. The current saga (happening on EL’s watch) of heavy and acidic crude at indeni attests to this.

    • Listen @quest(quest less, no prof of quest), I AM REFERRING to this mornings happenings on BBC One, (you should by now bit the vid online), in relation to President Obama’s visit in Kenya. I referencing an a Western analyst (wearing, red suspenders over his trousers, think a now bow tie too).

      Our argument @ParrotForLungu(proudly so), is that AT LEAST he is thinking outside the box. We do not see this from the hopeful hopeless opposition, just attack attack, vote for me bla bla.

    • Anyway, I’m off to finish my house move to my new des res in Wandsworth, very nice too. No one can match my brilliance!

      Chap called Paul Lewis Moneybox made the comments on this morningsbreakfast show. www dot bbc dot co dot uk/programmes/b006qjnv/episodes/player.

      If someone finds this mornings programme on BBC iplayer please post the link. Think not out yet or too controversial. See how westerners prevent your development in Africa and stop pulling the gov’t down.

    • @12.2: Lungu’s parrot abroad: I am not & don’t care neither I am interested in your imaginery properties in the UK. I will not mention what I own because there are a lot Zambians that are more affluent than myself suffice to say I am content with what I have. My kids are in international schools & I occasionally send them abroad for exposure the last being commonwealth games in Scotland (2014). My most troubling vexation /motivation is that, I have very poor Zambian relatives & family friends (which I would like to assume you also have, unless u are a snob/pretender) And that bothers me. I supported the PF to the hilt using my own resources (2006 -2011). But EL’s PF of today full of corruption, gallavanting, tribalism is NOT my cup of tea!

    • No. That’s hardly Des Res is it?

      I am not the type that would end up in prison because I am respectful of authority unlike you.

      I am moving to a glorious home just 5 minutes across a beautiful park (common). In a house full of architectural detail in a very desirable neighbourhood of progressive people. Decent people.

    • @Quest

      Of course I have relatives, who on earth does not! I will be coming around soon to visit them for a wedding and to sort my inheritance which will probably make me richer than you(! Joke). And NO I am referring to an actual property thanks. I am sorry you are not interested, in my remark but you must be decent enough to accept it in the spirit it was relied here. No one was online at the time and I made a flippant remark for humour. Of course people like you have none.

      I do believe firmly that our President is the best of the lot and folks like you are just politicking tireless because gov’t/democracy is all about having your chosen one, rather than the best candidate.

      President Lungu is the best, and what’s more, he is honest and dealing with fires in an imaginative…

  12. Ati Ifintu ni Lungu. Please Zambians wake up, we are in reverse gear. Lets stop being tribal, whether Tonga, bemba, luvale etc we are the same people, Zambians. In UK and USA they don’t vote along these lines, they vote for someone with substance. Not until we get over this, we will continue in the reverse gear.

  13. In the current cycle oil has never been cheaper in the since the Iraq war. So is Lungu saying Uganda is going to give him free oil when they start producing oil in 10 years time. RB tried the same with Nigeria & ended up stealing the oil money. Just hope these allowances will be enough to cover his legal bills when Nigeria gets him. Looks like Lungu is following hid mentors foot ? steps.

    • Now @kabudula Davies, name calling is for tiny children before Ma and Pa correct them.

      Besides, I love dogs, they display more loyalty to our gov’ts than some UPND intellectuals.

  14. You know what? You docile Zambian taxpayers can buy Edgar the most expensive Canali suit and the most expensive gangster Fedora hat to match his suit..he will still be a lazy dull visionless bum, there is nothing worthy he can utter, i highly doubt his credentials as a lawyer …surely if I went to Uganda today the first thing I would ask M7 or them as I always ask my Ugandan colleagues; Is the privatization of the major electricity supplier..Uganda is template to learn from not oil you can not trust this lazy bum Edgar especially that he is surrounded by hardcore corrupt entities like Banda & Co who are very familiar with this sector.
    Zambians wake up this bum Edgar is clearly out of his depth!!

    • @Jay Jay cut our President some slack!!

      Quote’ The President said among OTHER ISSUES agreed with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.’ End.

      From that statement, we know that there is in deed the possibility he did discuss electricity supply template with MK and President ‘Yo.’ Of Uganda.

      Suits allowances are okay. We want him as snazzy and sharp as other world Leaders. It’s when he starts wearing Rapper like Gold/Diamond Bling the size of Zambian Mines we should worry!!

  15. Comment after negative comment proves once again that UPND and general opposition supporters either did not do well in English Comprehension or that they hate the gov’t so much that every comment provides a battlefield opportunity (as such proving imbalance).

    READ THAT ARTICLE AGAIN, mindful of grammar and meaning of intention. QUOTE ‘President Edgar Lungu says the discovery of oil in Uganda is an opportunity for Zambia to explore ways of getting cheaper crude oil.’

    The President said among other issues agreed with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was the possibility of getting crude oil cheaply from Uganda through Dar-as-salaam where it can be pumped to Indeni in Ndola.’ END

    OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, AND POSSIBILITY. This article proves FUTURE planning hence VISION.

    • This is good. Why the mocking and kicking? All relevant infrastructure and how we are to go about it is being opened to discourse.

      So put your ideas in a helpful way so the gov’t can serve you better. What’s wrong with forward thinking?

  16. Zambia first needs the capacity to process “crude oil” before thinking about importing it.

    Indeni can only handle limited amounts of partially-refined fuel called “feedstock” – crude oil is no use to the country.

    Anyway I thought PF government was just any time from now about to discover oil in Zambia because “God cannot be unfair”? And can we also have high speed rail links via a tunnel to London since we already have a 22km track that reaches to Malawi, so it’s only a matter of a few good statements from President Lungu and we can soon join the European Union

  17. ka Lungu is groping in the dark. He has no clue what to do in order to solve the simplest problem Zambia faces.

  18. I wonder what this parrot ate. Certainly seems to be having a go at everyone with an I know it all attitude. Someone please give the parrot a cracker or some morphine. Here is something we can all look at without using insults and being vulgar towards each other. Cheers!

    *****

  19. Imwe bantu ive heard enough nonsense spoken here. I know theres a lot of oil right there in zambia, what is this crap of getting oil from Angola or Uganda? Be serious.

  20. Is this the same clown that wanted to sell electricity to Mozambique when we have load shedding here in Zambia??

    And now he wants to buy oil that is the wrong type?

    Zambians wake up! The world is laughing at our stupidity.

    First we elect Sata that doubles his salary for renaming airports and keeping the billions from Eurobonds under his mattress in his bedroom, and now we elect a drunk thief of a lawyer!

    No oil from Uganda will ever reach Zambia. There is not even enough for East Africa.

    Lungu is just too dull to even understand this simple fact.

    And we have him as “President” !!!!!!

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