By CHINOYI CHIPULU
Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has assured Indeni Petroleum Refinery employees that they will be paid all their redundancy packages as soon as the company changes into a new system.
Dr Musokotwane on Tuesday led a delegation of Cabinet ministers at Indeni Petroleum Refinery and met the workers and management.
Addressing the Indeni workers, Dr Musokotwane said Government will pay all the 327 workers before the company changes into a new system.
Last month the workers demanded that Government should speed up the process on the payment of their benefits after the company was put under care and maintenance last year.
“I have been sent here by the President to tell you that we will settle all the financial issues with you before we change into the new system, so you will be paid. We are still making preparations as soon as the transition arrangements are made,” he said.
And Minister of Energy Peter Kapala said Government wants to cut down the cost on the importation of fuel hence Indeni Petroleum Refinery will be an Oil Marketing Company.
He said the company will start making ethanol and operate in all Government depots so that it can do the blending and check the quality of petroleum being imported in the country.
Mr Kapala said Indeni Petroleum Refinery will also be the off taker for small scale ethanol producing companies.
“We will announce the Board of Directors in the next two weeks that will help Indeni move to where we want it to be,” he said.
Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda, who was also part of the delegation, said that Government will make sure no job is lost at Indeni.
“As Government we are ready to work for the people of Zambia because you are the ones who have put us in these offices and that is why we want to re-affirm that no one will lose their jobs,” she said.
Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo was also part of the entourage.
