OMC not importing as fuel runs out
Both petrol and diesel may run out in Zambia by Wednesday. And the Watchdog has been informed that oil hikes announced by the ERB director last Thursday will be effected soon.
So far, Mazabuka district in Southern province and Kasama in the northern part of the country have run out of diesel. And motorists in Lusaka are queuing up for petrol which is drying up steadily.
A check this evening by the Watchdog at Arcades BP and most filling stations along the great east road showed that the commodity is running out.
And the Watchdog has been informed that Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) are not importing fuel due to low prices. Sources said that the OMC s wanted pump prices hiked for them to make profits.
But since government rejected the hike last Thursday, the OMC have also refused to import any.
Indeni refinery is on a one month routine maintenance and all fuel has to be imported until Indeni is back in operation.
Sources in the energy sector have revealed that the prices hikes announced by ERB director Lukonde Mfula were approved by the ERB board chaired by Sikota Wina, even though he later denied.
‘OMCs are not importing and if they don’t by Wednesday, the fuel will run out. That is the poistion,’ said a source.
On Thursday, Mfula announced that petrol would be increased by K1, 114 (19.15 %), Diesel, K548 (10.01 %) and Kerosene by K383, (10%).
The benchmark prices for Lusaka was intended to reflect at K6,026 for diesel, K6,932 petrol and K4,217 for Kerosene.
He said the price change had been necessitated by oil price increases on the international market and also the inclusion of a K65 per litre cost line that had been introduced to finance the cost of holding 15 days statutory operating stocks by all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
He further said the price review had also been necessitated by the importation of refined petroleum products during the on-going shutdown of Indeni Oil Refinery for its annual maintenance.
But Sikota later said that this was not true and the old prices remained in force.
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Ala tili mumabvuto muno ziko yatu! Leaving like no government and we have lost direction i think. Even Zimbabwe is currently doing better than us! Kaya-kaya!
the country has no government, and worse still no president.
nsilimubemba & Chicago city
Okay you asked for it you chaps….except next time I won’t allow myself to think for you chaps…
This article says: – “On Thursday, Mfula announced that petrol would be increased by K1, 114 (19.15 %), Diesel, K548 (10.01 %) and Kerosene by K383, (10%). The benchmark prices for Lusaka were intended to reflect at K6, 026 for diesel, K6, 932 petrol and K4, 217 for Kerosene”.
If Mfula had any brains at all…and I mean BRAINS… and since this is a temporary measure. He should have suggested to GRZ that for the period of importation by OMC’s, apart from 25% Duty waiver, Excise Duty on Petrol be reduced from 45% to 25% and Road Levy on diesel from 15% to 5%. Road Levy on Petrol can remain the same. These prices would have remained static. In fact there are several permutations he could have dealt with but your Mr. Mfula is just so damn thick….Why do you think prices are cheaper in the region than in Zambia….Eh?? Now you see why I think the ERB is a waste of time? The boys can’t think at all!!!!! Or they are damn scared to lose their jobs and Volvos and air-conditioned offices and girl friends and meals at hotels. I forgot another…Scrap the ERB fees for God’s sake.
As far as my information is concern, OMC cant import because they dont know when Indeni will be back on stream and some dont just have the capital to tie up in Letters of credit as they have given too much 30 days credit to their local customers already. To import fuel you have to pay up front and then have to deal with delays at borders from ZRA, Enviromental Commission and so forth its just hell on earth where as you have less headaces when you buy locally. And besides who cares if you chaps have bought yourselves these reject Gas guzzillers of Toyota 4×4 from Japan and some are even mad enough to be driviong 12 cylinder Hummers….You just asked for it… be like me…Njinga chabe no need for petrol.
But zo’ona the country has gone to the D.O.G.Z ! Fuel queues in Zambia whilst Zimbos across are enjoying cheap and plentiful fuel. Back to the UNIP days !
Poor planing, poor leadership-everything is chaotic! on top of that lies, lies, lies. What a nation!
Tyson Mulenga is a very good MMD cadre, but your days are numbered. Blog! why is Mulenga not commenting? All clever Zambians said sikota is not honesty. This has come true. MMD is panicking in Solwezi and they will Lose!
Some inteligent blogger heavily insulted Lukone Mfula yesterday ofcause it was TYSON MULENGA i just donnot know what he is going to say with what we have at hand now. tyson you must say something we want know your inteligency or else we consider you to be something else
We are heading to an unknown destination.suddenly fuel has run out,to make it worse we dont know where RB is taking us, we are in the middle of the jungle HE is driving us no where.we are stuck.
Ques again??????? well this should not surprise you. The party which groomed RB sees this as normal. I dont think RB cares about your concern, otherwise he could have fired this incompetent minister in charge. No fuel… what sort of nation is this? no direction, shame
No sense of urgency! Heads should roll.
I hear some churches want to pray for RB to drop some ministers who making the president unpopular. This is a sure case which will make him unliked. After his apology to the nation and promise to take action against the calprit nothing has changed. I encourage the clergy to talk to RB because he is very interested to galavant this the earth than sorting out this problem. May God deliever us.
I think Fiona meant to say ‘spread out across the country!’
People, lets unite & kick out these bastards! Twachula pafula
Unip days are back queing up for commodities it is apparent that we might welcome the new year on fuel queues spread out across the city.