GOVERNMENT has arranged for the importation of more fuel to supplement the daily production at Indeni Petroleum Refinery.

Energy Permanent Secretary Peter Mumba said the Government had observed that there had been high fuel consumption following the increase in vehicle population in Zambia.

Mr Mumba also announced that Indeni Petroleum Refinery would shut down on October 15 to October 30 for annual maintenance.

He said in an interview yesterday that his ministry had started importing petrol and diesel to supplement the daily production at Indeni, which was not enough for the high demand.

Mr Mumba said Indeni would only close for two weeks unlike in the past when the refinery used to remain shut for a month.

The importation would continue even during the time Indeni would be shut.
Government had also allowed BP Zambia and Total to import Jet fuel during the time when Indeni would be closed.

Mr Mumba said officers from his ministry would today travel to Nakonde and Dar-er-Salaam to ensure there were no delays in clearing trucks of fuel at the border.

He said Indeni was currently producing 1.3 million litres of diesel and 1.1million litres of petrol per day, the quantity he said was not enough to meet the daily uptake and needed to be supplemented.

Mr Mumba assured the nation that Indeni had enough fuel stocks and that the importation was only meant to cover the shortfall on the increased demand.

He could, however, not state the quantity of fuel that the Government intends to import.

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