Government says it has implemented measures to secure fuel supply in Luapula Province amid potential global disruptions.
During a tour of the Mansa-Tazama Fuel Depot, Luapula Province Minister Engineer Nason Musonda described the facility as a key strategic reserve with the capacity to store up to 6.5 million litres of fuel, including diesel, petrol, and kerosene.
He stated that the depot is intended to ensure a stable and consistent fuel supply in the province, particularly as global supply chains face uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions affecting major fuel routes.
The minister added that government is exploring alternative supply methods to maintain fuel availability and support economic activity. He also noted that petroleum products play an essential role in the country’s economy.
Engineer Musonda said the facility has reached a satisfactory level of preparedness and called on Tazama Pipelines Limited to complete outstanding works, including meter calibration, to allow commissioning by the end of the following month.
He further indicated that once operational, the depot will be able to sustain Luapula Province for more than a month without new supply and will help reduce transportation costs, as oil marketing companies will source fuel directly from Mansa instead of Ndola.
He added that government, through the Ministry of Energy, plans to stockpile fuel at the depot to mitigate supply disruptions and maintain economic productivity.
Meanwhile, Mansa Fuel Depot superintendent Mazimba Ng’onga said the facility includes two diesel tanks with a combined capacity of 4 million litres, two petrol tanks with a total capacity of 2 million litres, and a 500,000-litre kerosene tank.
Ng’onga said the depot is structurally complete but has not yet been commissioned, with initial fuel stocks expected before the end of the second quarter of 2026. He added that the facility is expected to improve fuel distribution efficiency in the region once operational.
