Indeni, Zambia's only one oil refinery, has said it still operational dispelling reported another fuel crisis looming within one year, Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday.

Indeni superintendent on duty Ackson Mbewe was quoted as saying in Ndola northern Zambia that the plant is pumping 80,000 liters of crude oil per hour.

Indeni general managing Fred Zama said on Saturday that the plant was only shut for a routine check and not that there were any problems regarding the perceived crude oil shortage.

He said reports that the plant has been shut due to a lack of crude oil are not true and that they are misleading.

Last Wednesday a local newspaper reported that Indeni remained shut since March 8 after running out of feedstock.

The local newspaper quoted a letter from the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) as saying "It is imperative that you urgently commence importing petroleum products to mitigate the reoccurrence of a fuel shortage in the country."

The letter said, Indeni was shut down on March 8 but still expecting the next shipment from Dar es Salaam before March 31.

Last year, the country was plunged into petroleum crisis after the breakdown at Indeni. Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande said last month that the fuel shortage caused by Indeni's closure impacted negatively on the economy of 2005.

Source: Xinhua