Zambia: Fuel shortage hits again

  1. Posted on Thursday 5 November 2009 - 11:32
    Sanday
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    Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
    Zambia has once again been gripped by an acute fuel shortage that has paralyzed operations in heavy industries and inconvenienced motorists. This is the second fuel shortage to hit the country within two weeks and observers are warning the situation might get "messy" if not urgently attended to.
    zambia transport
    The second wave of petroleum shortages in Zambia comes shortly after Information Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha assured last week that the situation would normalize by the weekend.

    However, contrary to Shikapwasha’s assurances, the shortage of fuel has persisted in several parts of the country, our reporter said.

    This has forced some heavy industries to cut their production while motorists are opting to use public transport to and from work. Most gas stations surveyed in the Zambian capital, Lusaka have established that the fuel shortage has continued after it showed signs of normality during the previous weeks.

    Meanwhile, the Zambian government has acquired 50% stake in Indeni Petroleum Refinery previously owned by Total International of France at the cost of US$ 5.5 million.

    This means that the Zambian government has 100% ownership of the obsolete petroleum refinery based about 300 kilometres north of the capital, Lusaka.

    Total International recently announced that it was pulling out of Indeni on unknown grounds but it is understood that the French petroleum giants have decided to seal the cap on the 32-year-old plant after failing to reach a conclusive agreement on the re-capitalization of the plant.

    Zambia consumes about 700, 000 litres of Diesel and 1, 000, 000 litres of Petrol a day. Indeni Petroleum Refinery has the capacity to refine 60 tonnes of crude oil per month.

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