Gov’t, ERB differ over diesel shortage

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

GOVERNMENT has said the country has enough diesel to last the next 14 days, contradicting the Energy Regulation Board that has disclosed that more than 123 sites (filling stations) have completely run dry of the commodity as of Tuesday this week.
Energy Minister Makozo Chikote announced in a statement yesterday that preliminary investigations were to the effect that diesel shortages in the country are localised and blamed the acute shortage of the product to what he has termed as supply chain bottlenecks.
But on Tuesday, the ERB announced that the critical shortage of diesel had hit 123 sites (filling stations), which had completely run out of the commodity, leading to the shutdown of TAZAMA Pipeline after Indeni Energy failed to meet its contractual obligations.
According to Mr Chikote, as of August 21 2025, national stocks of diesel was standing at 64, 876, 487 litres – equivalent to 14 days of national consumption.
Addressing the bottlenecks being experienced regarding diesel shortages, Mr Chikote said the ministry, together with the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and other stakeholders were addressing the challenges to stabilise and normalise the stock levels on the market.
“Going forward, we are implementing both short-term and long-term measures to ensure stable and predictable access to fuel across Zambia,” he said in a statement yesterday.
These include spot checks, with the ERB intensifying on-spot checks, working closely with TAZAMA to ensure that fuel uplifts are going to intended places, with emphasis on retail consumers,” Mr Chikote said.
He said another measure of resolving the continued shortage of diesel was the timely facilitation of imports to ensure timely facilitation of imports to build on stocks through the TAZAMA Pipeline Open Access.
Mr Chikote emphasised that the country has adequate stocks of diesel to meet current demand.
“A survey of 650 filling stations nationwide revealed that: 456 stations were dispensing both diesel and petrol, 33 stations were dispensing only diesel, 125 stations were dispensing only petrol, and 36 stations had temporarily run out of stock,” he said.
“These figures confirm that fuel supply across the country is sufficient. The government remains committed to keeping the public fully informed about the fuel situation in the country,” Mr Chokote said.
On Thursday, Devon Oil Zambia challenged Government to explain why the country has been subjected to acute shortage of diesel, with more than 123 filling stations running completely dry yet TAZAMA Pipeline is blocking about 36 million metric tonnes of diesel currently in its tanks in Ndola to be offloaded on the market and cure the unnecessary shortage.
Chombe Gondwe, the Devon Oil Zambia managing director says it is puzzling that the country has been subjected to acute shortage of diesel yet TAZAMA is blocking 36 million metric tonnes of diesel belonging to Devon to be discharged to the market.
Mr Gondwe said in an interview that the refusal by TAZAMA Pipeline to offload Devon Oil Zambia diesel even after the throughput agreement had been reached had resulted into more than 123 filling station running dry of the commodity.
He said that three weeks ago, Devon Oil Zambia had allowed and instructed TAZAMA Pipeline to offload its diesel consignment, which was being held in its tanks to avert the shortage crisis but that the pipeline had largely ignored its instruction for unknown reasons.
Mr Gondwe explained that Devon Oil Zambia had been more than ready to supply the commodity and avert the crisis, stating that it was unacceptable that more than 123 filling stations across the country had run dry while the commodity was available in the country.