LUMEZI District of Eastern Province will soon have its first ever filling station following the commencement of construction works by Oasis Energies, a development expected to improve fuel access, enhance safety and stimulate economic activity in the area.
The district has never had a licensed filling station, forcing residents and motorists to either buy fuel from Lundazi, located 35 kilometres away or resort to illegal street vendors who sell at inflated prices, sometimes as high as K100 per litre, far above the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) set rates.
Lumezi town council deputy public relations officer Irvin Muyumbwa said the development marks a major milestone for the district.
“Lumezi District will soon have the first established filling station under Oasis Energies with construction works already underway,” Muyumbwa told #Kalemba.
The local authority expressed happiness that the development will increase safety because several house fire incidents in the district were due to unsafe storage of flammable liquids in households by illegal fuel dealers.
It is expected that the opening of a legitimate filling station will reduce such risks while ensuring a reliable and regulated supply of petroleum products.
In addition, the project is anticipated to create job opportunities for local residents and contribute to the growth of the district’s economy.
The local authority has since urged residents to support the new investment and desist from purchasing fuel from illegal vendors, adding that enforcement measures will continue against unlicensed fuel trading.
By George Musonda
Kalemba September 18, 2025
