By JAMES KUNDA-
OIL RICH Saudi Arabia is among several Middle-East countries that are being considered for the supply of cheap Jet-A1 fuel to Zambia, Energy Permanent Secretary Charity Mwansa has said.
Ms Mwansa said in an interview that the Government was also looking for other sources of aviation fuel that will help reduce operational costs for airlines in Zambia.
Ms Mwansa admitted that Jet-A1 fuel in Zambia was relatively on a higher side compared to other countries in the region.
The current wholesale price of Jet A-1 fuel in Zambia is pegged at K6.51 per litre and this has forced some airlines to shun Zambia.
This could also be one of the factors delaying the country’s plans to reintroduce a national carrier.
“Our mandate as Government is to find cheaper sources of fuel so that the commodity is affordable to all consumer categories and that is why, a team of experts was sent to Saudi Arabia for negotiations regarding cheaper sources of fuel,” Ms Mwansa said.
Government had also opened talks with Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over prospects of the two Asian countries supplying fuel to Zambia on government-to-government agreements.
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) had in April this year, announced the increase of fuel prices by an average of 8.3 per cent.
The ERB said in a statement that pump price for all petroleum products has been increased following the cumulative depreciation of the Kwacha against the United States Dollar.
Petrol increased by 7.22 per cent, diesel by 8.75 per cent and Kerosene by 9.45 per cent while the wholesale prices have been adjusted by 11.15 per cent.
This meant that a litre of petrol will now be selling at K10.63, diesel K10.01 and kerosene K7.48.