Zambia wants independent management at refinery

Zambia's finance ministry wants independent management of the country's sole petroleum refinery, Indeni Petroleum Refinery to guarantee stability of fuel supply and prices in the country.
Evans Chibiliti, the permanent secretary to the treasury, told Zambian lawmakers that independent management would ensure smooth operation of the refinery.

Indeni is a major supplier of fuel to Zambia's copper and cobalt mines on the Copper belt and north western provinces. However, since 2005, Zambia has been experiencing unstable fuel supplies which have, at times, hit mining operations.
The 20,000 bpd refinery is owned jointly by the Zambian government and Total. Since last year, management has been looking to a strategic partner to invest up to $ 60 mm for a complete overhaul of the plant, which has been prone to breakdowns.

According to analysts, Zambia's copper mining operations continue to intensify spurred by the increasing global copper demand which is straining the country's energy sector.
Zambia is facing a power crisis which has hurt its mining sector.