Zambia to import oil from Sudan

April 17, 2006 (LUSAKA) — Sudan is finalizing plans to facilitate Zambia’s importation of crude oil from the oil- producing country, according to the Times of Zambia newspaper on Monday.

Charge d’affaires of the Sudanese Embassy in Zambia Abpelhalimomer Nour was quoted as saying at the weekend that Sudan will soon open doors for Zambia to import its petroleum and is currently working on constituting a committee that will deal with the logistics regarding how Zambia will start to import oil from Sudan.

Nour said that it will be cheaper for Zambia to import oil from Sudan since both countries belong to one regional economic group, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The trade policies under COMESA will regulate oil transactions to enhance fair conditions for both parties, he said.

He said that trade between the two countries is not very active and there is need for the two sides to enhance their trade relations.

The Sudanese diplomat said there are a lot of products including copper, fresh flowers and cotton among other things that Sudan could import from Zambia.

(Xinhua)