The Zambian Government has granted oil marketing companies a waiver to enable them to import finished petroleum products at a cheaper price.
Minister of Energy, Matthew Nkhuwa, said the waiver would run for six months.
He said the waiver had been given to 81 companies to import 1.9 billion litres of diesel and 934 million litres of petrol.
“This will complement government-contracted suppliers and improve the security of supply,’’ he said in a statement.
“The measure was in addition to the zero-rating of value-added tax on diesel and petrol, which has resulted in the stabilisation of the pump price.’’
The country recently experienced a shortage of fuel in some parts but the minister assured that the government was committed to ensuring a stable supply of fuel.
He further revealed that the country’s sole oil refinery, Indeni Oil Refinery, which has been shut since Dec. 12, 2020, for maintenance purposes, will start operations in the coming weeks.
The state-run refinery accounts for 40 per cent of national petroleum requirements. (Xinhua/NAN)