Government blames fuel shortages on logistical delays

The government has attributed recent fuel stock-outs to logistical challenges, including delays in port clearances, product uplifts, and transportation of fuel from import points to depots and retail stations.

Energy Minister, Makozo Chikote, told Parliament on Tuesday that authorities were fully aware of the intermittent shortages of diesel and petrol reported at some filling stations and had taken urgent measures to restore normal supply.

Responding to a question under Standing Order No. 82, Chikote assured the House that despite temporary disruptions, the country’s overall fuel position remained stable.

“As of November 17, 2025, national stocks stood at 55.6 million litres of diesel—equivalent to 12.4 days of cover—and 21.2 million litres of petrol, providing 11.6 days of cover,” he said.

He explained that Zambia consumed an average of 4.5 million litres of diesel and 1.6 million litres of petrol per day.

The country continues to receive 3.6 million litres of diesel daily through the TAZAMA Pipeline, while the balance of diesel and all petrol requirements are transported by road tankers, he said.

To stabilise supply, Chikote said the government had implemented several urgent measures.

“These include directing Indeni and TAZAMA—through the Energy Regulation Board (ERB)—to prioritise diesel allocation to Oil Marketing Companies supplying the retail market,” he said.

He added that TAZAMA had been instructed to extend loading hours at the Ndola Fuel Terminal to increase product uplift, while a waiver had been issued to allow fuel tankers to operate extended hours from 05:00 to 22:00 to accelerate deliveries to filling stations.

Chikote further said the government had engaged the governments of Tanzania and Mozambique—Zambia’s main transit countries for fuel imports—to reduce delays in offloading cargo vessels and dispatching tankers.

“These interventions are already being implemented and fuel supply is expected to normalise in the shortest possible time,” he assured.

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