Shiwang’andu. June 21, 2024. ZANIS—

SGC Investment Limited, an oil marketing company, has opened a K6 million filling station in Shiwang’andu district in Muchinga Province.

SGC has responded to the demand for fuel to construct the first-ever filling station in Shiwang’andu.

The district economic and job creation subcommittee Chairperson Chewe Mutale informed the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) that the proprietor has already stocked the commodities and is just waiting for 14 days to elapse to open to the general public.

Shiwang’andu Council Secretary Isaac Mwale explained that the SGC has completed all the necessary stages and has complied with all regulations from both the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB).

He explained that the 14 days provided before the filling station is opened after construction is part of the regulations to monitor other hiccups. especially spillages of fuel.

Mr Mwale disclosed that among the oil commodities to be offered are petrol, diesel, gas and paraffin to accommodate those that cannot afford to be connected to hydroenergy. 

And Shiwangandu District Commissioner Maureen Bwembya added that Shiwang’andu is still a rural district where most of the people from remote villages still use old lighting system of “koloboi” (paraffin lamps), hence her office negotiated for stocking of paraffin.

The District Commissioner was responding to concerns from members who wanted to know if paraffin is still one of the commodities in demand in this era. 

Ms Bwembya further explained that not all areas have been connected to hydroenergy, as such most people are still using paraffin as an alternative energy for various domestic use and also in painting.

Shiwang’andu district was created in 2012 since then there has been no filling station as institutions are made to open fuel accounts in either Mpika or Chinsali.

This situation made government and private institutions that require huge amounts of fuel for operations to stock petrol and diesel in containers for their field activities.

With the coming of the SGC filling station the risks of storing fuel in containers will be a thin of the past.

A check by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) this morning found newly recruited fuel attendants and support staff cleaning up in readiness for the soon-to-open SGC filling station.