The Cabinet has approved the piloting of bulk importation of petrol in a move aimed at reducing fuel pump prices and improving security of supply.
President Hakainde Hichilema made the decision during the final Cabinet meeting for 2025, held on Tuesday, 23rd December, at State House.
Cabinet says the pilot programme will allow the country to benefit from lower average import costs per unit, enhanced access to better financing terms, improved risk management and increased operational efficiency.
The bulk importation of petrol will be conducted on a pilot basis through a limited bidding process and will run for a period of four months.
By aggregating demand across multiple Oil Marketing Companies, Cabinet says the framework is expected to unlock economies of scale, enable the winning supplier to negotiate more favorable international purchase terms, reduce per-unit import costs and streamline distribution logistics.
The government expects the initiative to not only result in lower fuel prices at the pump, but also strengthen security of supply, improve supply chain efficiency and ensure full utilization of fuel storage depots.
By Rachel Mumba
