The Zambian government has instructed the country's sole oil refinery to reschedule its annual maintenance shutdown to make way for the general elections due on September 28, local media reported on Friday.

The one-month shutdown, originally due from September 15, would begin from October 2 following concerns that this might lead to disruptions in the supply of fuel prior to and during this month' s elections.

"People are concerned that they don't want disruption in the supply of fuel during this period," Ministry of Energy permanent secretary Buleti Nsemukila was cited by Zambia Daily Mail as saying.

"This is not only for the elections but we are heading towards the farming season so we need steady supply," Nsemukila added.

He assured the nation that every effort was being made to ensure that there would be adequate supply of petroleum products in the country.

The refinery has been plagued by breakdowns because of obsolete equipment and was shut for almost four weeks in September last year, when mass transportation was severely paralyzed due to shortage of oil arising from the breakdown.

Nsemukila explained that the shutdown was a normal planned annual activity and there was no need for panic in the nation.

Source: Xinhua