Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, has informed Parliament the National assembly that government is fully aware of the intermittent shortages of diesel and petrol experienced in recent days at some filling stations across the country.
Responding to a question under Standing Order No. 82 on the fuel situation, Mr. Chikote said the temporary stock-outs were a result of logistical challenges, including delays in port clearances, product uplifts, and transportation of fuel from import points to depots and retail outlets.
He assured the House that, despite these disruptions, the country’s overall fuel position remains stable.
“As of 17th November 2025, national stocks stood at 55.6 million litres of diesel, representing 12.4 days of cover, and 21.2 million litres of petrol, providing 11.6 days of cover,” said Mr. Chikote.
Mr. Chikote explained that Zambia consumes an average of 4.5 million litres of diesel and 1.6 million litres of petrol per day.
He added that the country continues to receive 3.6 million litres of diesel per day through the TAZAMA Pipeline, while the remaining diesel requirements, and all petrol imports, are transported by road tankers.
Mr. Chikote however said that several urgent interventions have been implemented to address the fuel shortages such as directing Indeni and TAZAMA, through the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), to prioritise diesel allocation to Oil Marketing Companies that supply the retail market.
He said that TAZAMA has been instructed to extend loading hours at the Ndola Fuel Terminal to increase product uplift, while government has issued a waiver allowing fuel tankers to operate extended hours, from 05:00 to 22:00 hours, to speed up deliveries to filling stations.
Mr. Chikote further disclosed that Government has engaged the governments of Tanzania and Mozambique, Zambia’s key fuel transit partners, to address logistical challenges at loading ports and reduce delays in offloading cargo vessels and dispatching tankers.
-RCV