The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has urged the public against panic buying of fuel including diesel and petrol, emphasizing that there is no crisis, and the country has sufficient stock.
ERB Director General Elijah Sichone says the country is currently consuming an average of 4.5 million liters of diesel and 1.6 million liters of petrol per day.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Sichone explained that diesel consumption has risen from 3.6 million liters in 2023 to 4.5 million liters by the end of 2024, marking an increase of 900,000 liters per day.
“However, petrol consumption remains unchanged at 1.6 million liters per day,” said Mr. Sichone.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sichone also shared that there are currently 628 operational filling stations across the country, with 7 non-operational due to various reasons.
He said as of Friday, February 21, 2025, 627 filling stations were monitored, with only one station failing to provide the required information.
He, however, said of the 627 monitored stations, 587 are selling both diesel and petrol, accounting for 93.6%. Fifteen stations are selling only diesel accounting for 2.4%, 14 are selling only petrol accounting for 2.2%, and 11 stations are not selling either fuel or diesel.
By Margaret Mwanza
