Indeni resumes ops as State procures crude oil
GOVERNMENT has finally procured crude oil which had run out at Indeni Oil Refinery.
Minister of Energy Mathew Nkhuwa disclosed in an interview yesterday that the Ministry of Finance mobilised funds for the procurement of the commodity.
GOVERNMENT has finally procured crude oil which had run out at Indeni Oil Refinery.
Minister of Energy Mathew Nkhuwa disclosed in an interview yesterday that the Ministry of Finance mobilised funds for the procurement of the commodity.
He said that the operations at the refinery would start today now that the commodity was now available.
Mr Nkhuwa said crude oil was now being pumped in tanks so that operations can commence at the Oil Refinery.
“Everything is on course, right now as I’m talking they have started pumping in the tanks and I was talking to Managing Director for Indeni this morning (yesterday), Managing Director Tazama and they told me that they are pumping and they will fill up two tanks so that they start operations.
They started pumping last night then they will wait for it to settle down a bit then things will start moving. Come Monday or Tuesday will see operations commencing,” Mr Nkhuwa said.
Power Generation and Allied Workers Union of Zambia and the National Union of Transport and Allied Workers recently revealed that the Indeni has had no crude oil for over 60 days, the longest in the last decade,
In a joint statement issued by the Power Generation and Allied Workers Union of Zambia General Secretary Mutukelwa Lubita recently said there was no pumping at Indeni despite the many assurances by the Ministry of Energy.
Mr. Lubita said the situation raised many concerns and must not be allowed to continue.
He said that there is need for every patriotic Zambian to reflect on the efforts and selfless approach put in by former President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and his team.
“They built the pipeline from Dar-es-Salaam through to Ndola where Indeni Refinery is. The plant is an expensive installation whose safety gets compromised when left to lie idle. It must not be allowed to be exposed to the elements while in an idle state,” he said.