MINISTER of Energy and Water Development Kenneth Konga has directed his Permanent Secretary and Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to establish where oil marketing companies (OMCs) are taking petrol which is being released on the market on a daily basis.
Mr Konga, who was speaking in an interview yesterday, wondered why the country had a shortage of fuel when Government was releasing 800,000 litres of petrol every day.
He said 800,000 litres surpasses the nation’s daily demand of 600,000 litres.
Mr Konga said Government directed Tazama through the Ndola Fuel Terminus to be releasing 800,000 litres of petrol every day, starting from Friday last week. And this is above the national consumption of 600,000 litres,” he said.
He said Government recently purchased 90,000 tonnes of crude oil and that this is expected to last until November.
“Yes, we have a challenge at Indeni where the catalyst is underperforming thereby affecting the production of petrol, but we have directed Tazama to be releasing 800,000 litres per day,” he said.
Mr Konga wondered where OMCs are taking the petrol which is being released to them.
He also said he has observed a pattern where smaller OMCs such as Vuma and Engen have stocks while bigger OMCs like BP and Total, who control a large market share do not have.
“These big OMCs do not have petrol and yet they are picking petrol in bulk form the Ndola terminus. We want to establish where they are taking this fuel. Perhaps they are hoarding stocks,” he said.
Mr Konga warned that ERB has powers to revoke licences of OMCs that are flouting laws.
He also said Government will ensure that after investigations are concluded, it will restructure the market shares of big OMCs and ensure that smaller companies have a bigger shareholding.
“Depending on the outcome of investigations, we will give the smaller OMCs a bigger shareholding because the big companies are holding us to ransom,” he said.
And Mr Konga has appealed to motorists not to panic as the country has enough stocks to last until November.
“As government, we will ensure that petrol is made available,” he said.
The shortage of fuel in Lusaka has persisted with most filling stations running out of stock.
A survey carried out yesterday revealed that most of the filling stations had run out of stocks while those with supplies were rationing.
A check at Caltex filling station at Longacres revealed that they had run out of fuel stock.
A fuel attendant found at the station, Moses Mwanza, said they were still expecting stocks.
At British Petroleum (BP) Longacres filling station, the attendant who sought anonymity said they have not had petrol since Friday last week.
“We have not had petrol but we are expecting to receive some later in the day,” he said.
A check at BP Chelstone filling station found motorists queuing up for the commodity.
The motorists were however only allowed to purchase a maximum of K60,000 worth of fuel.
According to a fuel attendant, the filling station received 9,000 litres of petrol, and was expecting more.
At Total filling station along Alick Nkhata road, the filling station supervisor, a Mr Bota said they had no petrol, but were expecting to receive stocks by today.
He said the filling station had 5,000 litres of petrol on Saturday which was all sold.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Hon Kenneth Konga is being economical with the truth. The feuel shortage was caused by an antipation that there was going to some hike in fuel price like in the past each time a budget was presented to parliament when the Minister of Finance announces such hikes are with effect from mid night. This time it was totally a different story. Some one in the supply chain was hoarding the commodity hoping there would be a hike in fuel prices. This shortage of fuel exposed our wekness in the supply chain of fuel in Zambia. Imagine spending 3hrs on the quee at Engen Cross Roads Filling Station.
It is all just bullshit.
Fuel crisis. Too many theories!
It’s either the Minister doesnt understand the economics and business of Fuel or he is playing dull. These chaps are just not running the country right.
MMD cannot even run a KANTEMBA too much busy campaining for 2011
iwe Konga some few months ago you said you will resign shud there be a fuel shortage in Zed.
Kwena this is UNIP comeback naba Bwezani icalo kunuma. The president and his cabinet has failed to manage the country. the writings are on the wall!
We got low pressure of water here at UNZA today and yesterday, and now no fuel, when we were told all will be fine by Sunday. Tizasamba chani ba Rupiah? Ba Rupiah munabwelako che. mwaitaya iyi ya fwuwelo. Rupiah, what a disgrace that you ve put Zambia into. Zimbabwe is now better than us.
stop those stupid fruitless probes…..just stealing our hard earned money
when are shortages of this nature, going to come to an end in that beautiful country called zambia? How on earth authorities can allow a situation where a commodity like fuel to run out in the country even for a second. Where is the planning? The whole thing is bringing shame to some of us in foreign countries.