Energy and water development Minister Kenneth Konga has dismissed reports that the country might experience a fuel shortage beginning this month end.

Mr. Konga told radio QFM in an interview that the country has adequate stocks of fuel at Indeni oil refinery in Ndola to last the country three months.

He says during the 40 days period Indeni oil refinery will be shut down for routine maintenance, the country will not be affected because there are enough stocks of fuel.

Mr. Konga has since assured the general public not to panic by what he terms as misleading reports of a looming fuel shortage in the country.

Zambia’s sole oil refinery, Indeni, is scheduled to close this month for routine maintenance.

The four-week closure will enable the replacement of old machinery at the state-owned refinery to make it more reliable.

The 23,750 barrels-a-day refinery is the main supplier of fuel to Zambia’s copper and cobalt mines on the Copperbelt and North Western provinces. - lusaka Times