Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has suspended retailing of petroleum products at Karan Meanwood Service Station in Chongwe District.
This follows suspected water contamination of petroleum products at the service station.
ERB Public Relations Manager, Namukolo Kasumpa has disclosed that the Board has since instituted investigation following complaints from customers who refueled from the retail site between 15th and 25th February 2023
Ms Kasumpa says the Board has directed the immediate suspension of all retailing of petroleum products at the site in question as the matter under investigation relates to the quality of products being sold to the public.
She explained that the directive has been made pursuant to section 4 of the Energy Regulation Act No. 12 of 2019, which mandates ERB to close any energy facility which poses safety and health concerns to the general public.
Ms Kasumpa added that ERB is expeditiously and diligently reviewing the investigation findings to establish the exact cause of the incidents in order to take appropriate action in line with the applicable licence conditions.
“It should be emphasised that if the licensee is found wanting, appropriate enforcement action would be taken as per the ERB enforcement manual,” she said.
Ms Kasumpa also reiterated ERB’s commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring that only quality energy products and services are sold to the public.
“Consumers play an important role in raising alarm on product quality concerns, and members of the public are encouraged to contact the ERB on the Toll-Free line No. 8484 whenever they are in doubt about the quality of petroleum products sold to them,” she said.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media in Lusaka yesterday by Ms Kasumpa
It’s on this forum that I called on ERB to examine fuel samples whenever they inspect filling stations. Most used oils collected from mines are never disposed. They’re blended to petrol and diesel. Sometimes even Jet- A1 is also used. The most notorious are those run by Somalians. We know them. ERB must work with ZEMA to monitor these things. We know those that hold ZEMA licenses but don’t have disposal facilities
TRUE
In Zambia, regulators have make more money than the regulated. You can by looking at the offices they have. ERB offices are bigger and better than those of TOTAL, MOUNT MERU, ENGEN, PUMA or any other oil company. ZICTA offices are better than MTN, AIRTEL.
No wonder we pay more for fuel and talk time.
Its laughable to tell motorists that tank was contaaminated with rain water as an underground tank is sealed if water can get in then you are loosing fuel through evapouration and its a fire hazard