Zambia does not produce enough refined petroleum to meet its own demand. Almost every litre of petrol and diesel sold in the country has to be imported — either as finished product or as feedstock processed through the Indeni refinery before being distributed to service stations, mines, farms, industry and public-sector fleets.
That single fact shapes everything else about the supply chain. It determines where the product comes from, how it is priced, how it is moved, and what sort of businesses can operate reliably inside it.
Where the product originates.
Zambia's petroleum feedstock is sourced mainly from Middle East oil markets. Refined product is also imported directly — largely from regional and international suppliers — to supplement the volumes processed domestically. The result is a supply chain that depends on ocean freight, port handling in neighbouring countries, road transport across borders, and in-country storage before distribution.
How it moves.
Once product is landed, it has to travel. The distances involved mean fuel supply in Zambia is as much a logistics business as a trading business. Companies that import and distribute petroleum in this region typically maintain standing relationships with tanker operators, storage depots and clearing agents, because those relationships determine how quickly a shipment can be turned around and delivered to a client.
The volumes involved are substantial. On the import-and-distribution side, groups in this market handle millions of litres per month across petrol, diesel and lubricants. Being able to deliver 250 trucks per week is a meaningful operational claim in this environment — it requires not just fuel, but trucks, drivers, storage and the paperwork that sits behind every cross-border consignment.
What this means for buyers.
For businesses that depend on fuel — mines, haulage operators, farms, industrial users and large commercial fleets — the practical questions are usually the same: can the supplier deliver on a schedule, at a price that holds, without interruptions, and with documentation that stands up to scrutiny?
That is the level on which petroleum supply businesses compete in southern Africa. It is not primarily a branding exercise. It is an operational one.
Where Oleance Petroleum fits.
Oleance Petroleum, one of the operating divisions of Oleance Group International, imports and distributes petroleum products to clients across East and Central Africa. Established in 2017, the division has supplied more than 150 million litres of petrol and 18 million litres of diesel to date, and maintains the ability to deliver up to 250 trucks of fuel per week.
The division works through joint ventures and standing partnerships with international suppliers and regional transport operators, including DELEK (U.S), ORENGAS SPA for diesel, and International Export Solutions Group Inc. (Russia), alongside reliable transporters such as GTS, MS Trading Group and GLENCO Logistics.
What to ask a fuel supplier.
If you are evaluating a fuel supplier in Zambia or the wider region, the following questions tend to separate the operators from the brokers:
- Can you show a track record of delivered volumes, not just projected volumes?
- Which suppliers and transporters are you actually working with?
- What is your realistic weekly delivery ceiling, and how is it achieved?
- How do you handle pricing when international markets move?
- What documentation do you provide for cross-border consignments?
If a supplier can answer those questions clearly and quickly, they are usually operating on solid ground. If they cannot, the risk sits with the buyer.
For enquiries about fuel supply through Oleance Petroleum, use the contact form on this site or reach the group directly at info@oleancegroup.com.