Frequently asked questions
These are the questions customers ask us before opening an account, then again after the first delivery.
Before you open an account
We’ve grouped the questions we are asked most often, and we answer each of them plainly here.
In fact, most enquiries reach us with the same handful of questions. We’ve grouped them here by what you’re trying to find out, from opening an account through to invoicing and reconciliation.
We believe an answer should be useful. Where one would state a time, a volume or a price we’ve not committed to, it carries a [TBC] token instead of an invented number.
But we confirm the real value for your site before accepting an order, never in advance of that.
Ordering and delivery
These four cover the path from the order you place to the note your team signs on site.
How do I place an order?
Once your account is open you send orders to your depot contact by phone or email, and we confirm the volume, the product and the window against depot stock before we accept it.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on your route, the depot holding the product and the window your site can receive in. Our standard lead time is [TBC: delivery time], and we confirm it per order.
Can I get a fixed delivery window?
Yes, you can. We agree a window before dispatch and set it against stock we already hold, which is the whole reason we carry inventory ahead of demand.
What happens if a delivery is late?
We track the load in transit, so we’ll usually tell you before you notice. Your depot contact confirms the revised window and what we can do about the shortfall.
Product, storage and testing
These four cover what we supply and how we handle it before it ever reaches your storage.
Which products do you supply?
We supply diesel, petrol, Jet A-1, and lubricants and speciality oils. Biodiesel blending and LNG are still in development, so they are not yet cleared for commercial supply to every site.
How do you confirm product quality?
Our handling and quality controls follow standard bulk procedures written against [TBC: standard], and where a check can’t be completed we’ll not release the product to you.
Do you install storage on site?
Yes, we do. We install and maintain tanks, containment and dispensing under your supply account, and we size all of it around your consumption and your site access after a survey.
How much storage do I need?
It depends on your daily draw and how long you need to keep running if a delivery slips, so we size it after seeing consumption. Indicative capacities are [TBC: volume].
Invoicing and accounts
These four cover how we price supply and how you reconcile what arrived against what you actually paid.
How is fuel priced?
Pricing follows the regulated wholesale position and we confirm it per delivery, while contracted volumes are priced against the agreed term instead of load by load.
When am I invoiced?
We invoice against delivered volume on the cycle you agree with us when the account opens, and our payment terms are [TBC: payment terms].
How do I check what was delivered?
Every delivery is recorded on a signed note stating the volume received, and where you hold metered dispensing that record reconciles against the note automatically.
Who do I contact about my account?
Your depot contact handles supply and scheduling, and account and invoicing questions go to the same address, which is info@fieldsenergy.com.
Ask us something else
And these four come up less often. They usually decide whether we are the right supplier, and they are worth asking early.
Do you supply outside the Copperbelt?
We serve the rest of Zambia from our Copperbelt base and assess each route individually. Movements beyond Zambia are [TBC: geography] and confirmed per contract.
Are you licensed?
Yes, we are. Fields Energy is an ERB-licensed Oil Marketing Company for the importation, sale and distribution of petroleum products in Zambia under licence number [TBC: licence].
Can you move fuel I have already bought?
Yes, we can. Haulage is available as a standalone service, and we price it per movement against the route instead of per litre against a supply account.
What is the minimum volume you supply?
It varies by product and by route, so we confirm it when your account opens. Minimum order volumes are currently [TBC: volume].
Still not answered?
Send the question straight to the depot, and we’ll answer it directly instead of through a form.