‘Solwezi fuel depot inadequate for over 100 tankers’

INSUFFICIENT capacity to store several thousands of litters of fuel in Solwezi has resulted in over 100 tankers being marooned at the only depot in the area for days waiting to offload the commodity.

The trucks are parked outside the fuel depot along the Solwezi-Chingola road waiting to offload the com

Solwezi District Commissioner Rosemary Kamalonga has expressed concern about the marooned fuel tankers and described the situation as a disaster in waiting. Ms Kamalonga

modity.

According to information obtained by the Daily Na

tion, the situation is as a result of the limited capacity forcing tank drivers spending over 14 days before they could offload.

And Solwezi District Commissioner Rosemary Kamalonga has expressed concern about the marooned fuel tankers and described the situation as a disaster in waiting.

Ms Kamalonga said the fuel tankers were posing a danger not only to motorists but the public in case of a fire. She said it is sad that some fuel tanker drivers are spending a number of days before they could offload the fuel.

"This is very dangerous because anything can happen here and lose everything at the same time, Ms Kamalonga said.

She said there is urgent need to find a solution before some property and lives are lost by ensuring that the safety of the depot as well as tanker drivers are safeguarded.

"And we cannot afford to lose this fuel depot which government has constructed at a huge cost," Ms Kamalonga added.

Ms Kamalonga however disclosed that a combined team of officers from Solwezi Municipal Council, Road Development Fund, Road Transport and Safety Agency, Zambia Police, Zambia National Service and her office to find a place and create parking space.

But efforts to contact Depot Operations Planner Oscar Simukonda, to ascertain the exact capacity of the tanks proved futile by press time.