By CHATULA KANGALI –
MPONGWE District Council has bemoaned the inadequate supply of petroleum products which is negatively affecting production.
Council chairperson Boniface Chushi said in an interview that the agricultural district was faced with a critical shortage of fuel and was negatively affecting production.
He said in an interview that the only filling station owned by ORYX was unable to meet the demand for the product in the agricultural district.
“We have not had petrol here for the past two months. The filling station we have here has only been supplying diesel. Our farmers and residents are made to travel as far as Luanshya in search of petrol,” he said.
Mr Chushi said the demand for fuel in the district is high due to the increased population and agricultural activities.
He said the short supply of the commodity was negatively affecting production because farmers were made to travel long distances in search of gas.
The chairperson, however called on serious investors in fuel to come on board and curb the fuel shortage that the area had been experiencing.
Mr Chushi said the council had enough land for investment and that, those willing to invest in petroleum would be given land on cheaper rates.
