Zambia president urges efforts to safeguard fuel security

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday called for proactive measures to cushion the country's fuel sector against the impact of escalating conflict in the Middle East.



Speaking during an urgent meeting with members of the National Oil Marketing Association at State House in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, Hichilema said the conflict, triggered by military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, poses growing uncertainty to the country's energy security.



"This challenge is not small. We do not know how long this war will last, so we need immediate solutions as well as longer-term strategies," he said.



The meeting brought together the government and companies involved in the supply of petroleum products amid mounting uncertainty in the global fuel market.