8 September 2008
GOVERNMENT has assured the nation that there will be enough fuel when Indeni Refinery closes down for routine maintenance in two weeks time.
Ministry of Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary, Peter Mumba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that there was no need for people to panic.
He said the Government had put up adequate measures for the importation of fuel especially gas oil that was said to have been in short supply.
Mr Mumba said the Government had set aside enough money to buy more diesel and in two weeks time, the supplies would be delivered to the country.
He said even oil marketing companies (OMCs) had rallied together to import fuel in order to avoid shortage during the closure of Indeni.
He said that it was now time for Zambia to look at the issue of reserve stocks because currently the country had no reserve tanks.
Mr Mumba said Zambia needed reserves that could last for about a month so that it could be comfortable even whenever there was an emergency.
He, however, said that the Government would next year allocate some funds towards the building of reserve tanks.
Mr Mumba further said the Government and Zanaco were today expected to seal a deal in which the bank would be engaged as the financier for the importation of crude oil.
Mr Mumba said in an interview yesterday that the Government is today expected to receive Zanaco's final response to the offer.
Mr Mumba said that the Government had waited for a long time to find a financier for the importation of crude oil and that it was optimistic that Zanaco would today give a positive response.
He also said that the deal with the crude oil supplier was intact and that the Government was just looking for the financier so that the supply could start.
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