Mpika oil reserves to be launched

ENERGY Minister Christopher Yaluma has revealed that the Mpika oil reserve constructed at a total of U$23 million will be commissioned next months.
The Government embarked on a programme to construct oil storage facilities in all provincial centres to reduce transportation and fuel pump prices.
Mr Yaluma said the Mpika oil reserve once commissioned will service Muchinga Province.
The project to construct oil storage facilities in all provincial centres would be completed in the next three years.
Mr Yaluma further revealed that the Mongu and Solwezi oil storage facilities were currently under construction.
He stated that Government would commerce the construction of Kasama and Chipata oil storage facilities after the Mongu and Solwezi storage are constructed.
The minister said once the storage facilities have been constructed retailers would be buying fuel from provincial centres.
“The strategic intention for constructing the storage facilities in provincial centres is to help reduce transportation costs and ultimately reduce pump prices as retailers will be buying fuel from provincial centres,” he said.