By JAMES KUNDA –
MORE than 40 more tankers laden with refined fuels yesterday docked at TAZAMA’s Bwana Mukubwa terminal in Ndola to boost petroleum supply.
Meanwhile, Government has directed TAZAMA to improve petroleum supply in Northern Province after reports of depleting stocks in the region.
TAZAMA operations manager Webby Chanda said yesterday that the tankers arrived at separate intervals in the morning carrying fuel earmarked for delivery at fuel depots in Mpika, Ndola and Lusaka.
The consignment would be uplifted from the fuel depots by Oil Marketing Companies (OMC’s) that distribute to filling stations.
Mr Chanda said this when Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili met management at TAZAMA’s Bwana Mukubwa terminal in Ndola yesterday.
Mr Kambwili was on a fact finding mission to ascertain the root cause of the fuel shortage in some parts of the country.
“By 08:00 hours this morning, we had received 36 tankers and eight more are expected to arrive anytime.
“Each tanker is carrying about 40,000 cubic litres of fuel and the numbers keep on increasing meaning that there is enough fuel for national consumption,” he said.
Prior to his visit of TAZAMA, Mr Kambwili met management at Indeni Petroleum Refinery and heard that the plant had been on shutdown since March 8, this year, due to lack of feedstock from TAZAMA.
Indeni acting managing director Valentine Mwila said management had however taken advantage of the period to carryout maintenance work on the refinery.
“We expect to start operations immediately feed stock starts arriving from TAZAMA,” Mr Mwila said.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said Government was concerned with interruptions in fuel supply because the commodity was vital in the economic value chain.
“We are expeditiously engaging the stakeholders to ensure that normal fuel supply resumes,” he said.