Zambia has been hit with a diesel supply shortage, but the country’s Minister for Energy, Chikote Makozo, says there is sufficient stock available.
According to the Minister, Zambia currently has 113,194,304.93 litres of diesel stored at the Ndola Fuel Depot and 32,130,574.54 litres of petrol held across various depots and retail sites nationwide as of Friday, 6 February 2026.
He explained that these volumes exceed the national minimum operating requirements of 5.4 million litres of diesel and 1.7 million litres of petrol per day, providing strong confidence in the sustained availability of fuel on the market.
The Minister attributed the diesel shortage to logistical constraints.
In a statement issued on Friday, Minister Chikote noted that these operational challenges temporarily slowed the loading and distribution of fuel to various depots and service stations, resulting in sporadic shortages in some areas.
He, however, reassured the public that the country continues to hold adequate national fuel stocks.
Additionally, the Minister confirmed that in the last 48 hours, 7.4 million litres of diesel had been uplifted from the Ndola Fuel Terminal by various Oil Marketing Companies and is currently being distributed nationwide to replenish service stations and critical facilities. This forms part of ongoing efforts to restore normal supply levels.
To prevent similar disruptions, Minister Chikote said remedial measures have been instituted, including prioritising fuel loading at the Ndola Fuel Terminal, improving the scheduling of delivery trucks, and enhancing coordination among key stakeholders in the petroleum supply chain.
The Minister apologised for the inconvenience experienced by members of the public, motorists, and businesses due to the temporary disruption in fuel supply.
“Government remains firmly committed to ensuring a stable, reliable, and efficient supply of petroleum products across the country,” he said.
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