he ship carrying 60,000 tonnes of crude feedstock docked this morning at the port of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania.
Energy acting permanent secretary O.S.Kalumian has confirmed.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Kalumiana said the ship started offloading at 13:00 hours this afternoon and INDENI in Ndola should therefore start refining in a few days time following the arrival of the feedstock.
He said the 60,000 tonnes of feedstock will last until the first week of January, 2008.
At that time, a shipment of 90,000 metric tonnes of crude feedstock expected in the country between 15 and 24th January would be available.
Mr Kalumiana further explained that in addition, suffiecient stocks were stockpiled at the Ndola Fuel Terminal (NFT) before the temporary closure of INDENI.
He said as at 24th November, 2007, the Ndola Fuel Terminal held 20,084 cubic metres of diesel to last 24 days, 8,116 cubic metres of petrol to last 26 days, 2,257 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to last 18.5 days and 3490 cubic metres of kerosene to last 86 days.
The NFT also had 950 cubic metres of jet fuel for 11.6 days, 321 cubic metres of LPG to last seven days and 18,700 cubic metres of Heavy Fuel Oil to last 77 days.
Mr Kalumiana added that Oil Marketing Companies, OMCs, also had in stock 24,050 cubic metres of diesel to last 29 days, 8,116 cubic metres of petrol to last 26 days, 4,514 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to last 27 days, 3,741 cubic metres of kerosene to last 92 days, 2,869 cubic metres of jet fuel to last 31 days, 321 cubic metres of LPG to last 7 days and 18,700 cubic metres of Heavy Fuel Oil to last 77 days.
The acting energy permanent secretary said given this situation, there is no need for the public to panic as the fuel supply situation is under control.