INDENI Petroleum Refinery in Ndola has shut down its plant after running out of crude oil feedstock to process, but the country has enough fuel in reserve to last until the next consignment is delivered.
Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Brigadier General Emelda Chola said this in an interview yesterday.
The country is expecting a new consignment of crude oil feedstock early next month and operations at Indeni Petroleum Refinery will then resume.
“As you are aware, we recently cancelled the oil contract with the supplier and all what Indeni had is almost finishing,” Brig Gen Chola said.
Government has terminated the contract for the supply of crude oil with Gunvor SA and has engaged Independent Petroleum Group (IPG) of Kuwait.
“As soon as the cargo for crude oil feedstock is supplied by the new supplies whom we have already signed a contact with, the plant will re-open. We expect this by first week of March,” she said.
Last week, Tazama Pipeline Limited shut down its plant after pumping all the crude oil feedstock to Indeni Petroleum Refinery for processing
Brig Gen Chola, however, called on Zambians to remain calm because the country has adequate stocks of fuel to last until the country receives the next consignment of the crude oil feedstock.
She also said Government has put in place measures to import finished petroleum products to ensure there is enough fuel.
Recently, Government stopped a cargo ship carrying crude feedstock from offloading at the discharging bay in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, because the consignment was contaminated.
The crude feedstock had high levels of organic chlorides similar to the cargo that was received in June last year and caused damage to machinery at Indeni Petroleum Refinery.
Indeni conducted tests to assess the extent of damage which the contaminated feedstock caused to the machinery and shut down the plant.
After the refinery shut down, an assessment revealed that the extent of the damage was estimated at US$2.8 million.
Brace yourselves for panic buying ….Again
that is all we have been subjected to routinely by this incompetent govt. Every so often we have to buy full tanks.
Pure ”Chimbwi No Plan” syndrome.
How convenient. And these guys say they want another 5 years to rule. Useless buffoons with no plan
What the interim plan? Hope people, businesses, and a like will not suffer much.
Load shedding+fuel shortage=TWAPONOKWA.
This PS General is she the best we have to run the Energy Ministry together with the Bishop Chomba?Are these technocrats as one would expect to be the case when we are faced with the energy crisis we are grappling with. Anybody with answers out there?
Zambians will always be Zambians some1 tells u “Government stopped a cargo ship carrying crude feedstock from offloading at the discharging bay in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, because the consignment was contaminated” u still complain,may God put again put Mr I know it all to shame with his entire bitter followers.
habanyama
Why cant you ask yourself how the entire vessel took off without the contents being inspected?If you can waste $300,000 on New York trip you cant send experts to inspect the oil cargo especially after the last experience when we got contaminated oil?And you call the pipo complaining as being bitter?Call the ones running affairs incompetent.
“Zambians to remain calm ” this is the most common statement from PF, whats happening?
If this matter eventually results in any shortage of fuel, it will further undermine our already weak economy. This is worrisome. Apart from DRC and Zimbabwe, Is there another country where this keeps recurring? In order for our country to move forward we have no choice but to adopt a culture of merit. Competent people are there in this country. Appointing authorities at all levels must find them and give them a chance. Appointments based on any other basis other than merit will not help us.
She also said “Government has put in place measures to import finished petroleum products to ensure there is enough fuel.” You already having forex issues and you want to import finished petroleum products? smh. what a country
Really laughable. ..these empty tins are leaving hand to mouth…it’s like running out of flour in a bakery and stating that we have enough in the store room. Where are these tins taking the funds when crude is at an all time low?
Where is the inspection suposed to take place? at the source before departure or at Dar before offloading???? i thought the earlier would be the best.
Kungwe
just imagine and you have cadres like habanyama above supporting such incompetence.The statement itself tells you how pathetic affairs are being run.This woman knew or ought to know that inspecting the cargo in Dar after waiting for it for one month would be cartastrophic if as happened here the cargo was contaminated.But they still failed to inspect the cargo at source and now want to assure us that all is well with pipo like her running our affairs
Not to forget they just incurred a bill of $3 mn for discharging contaminated fuel into Indeni.PF must just go.Above I asked pipo to advise on the credentials of the 2 energy PS, the Bishop and the General am still waiting .In the midst of the energy crisis we now face the last thing one expects is giving such positions which require tecknocrats to cadres.
it is global, kaili the ship didnt reach zambia #kuyabebele