Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has fined thirty two companies for breach of license conditions.
ERB Acting Director Consumer and Public Affairs Fred Hang’andu says fines ranging from K9, 000 to K24, 000 are to be paid by affected companies within the month of January 2018.
Mr. Hang’andu says the decision to fine the companies was made during the 3rd regulatory board meeting after all companies had been given an opportunity to respond to the finding between September and November 2017.
In a statement made available to Q-news, Mr. Hang’andu says Kess Energy Zambia Limited was fined the sum of 24, 000 for implementing a charge that had not been approved by the ERB when it sold diesel at 11.90 kwacha of the approved 11.09 kwacha per liter.
He explains that of the thirty two licensees, twenty four companies were each fined the sum of 9, 000 kwacha for breaching license condition 2.4.1 when they failed to submit monthly petroleum industry statistics as required by the ERB.
Mr. Hang’andu says among the twenty four companies include Reba Industrial Corporation Limited, Pess Enterprises Zambia Limited, Enigma Petroleum Limited, Flexus petroleum Limited among others.
On the other hand the Board has resolved to fine six other companies the sum of 12, 000 kwacha each for breach of license condition 2.5.1 of the road transportation of petroleum products license.
These include Mount Meru petroleum Limited, Juba Transport Limited Wheels of Zambia Investments Limited, Keren Motors Limited, Atosh Transport Limited, and Climax Car Centre Limited.
Mr. Hang’andu says these companies were found to have used tankers which did not meet the applicable technical standards to transport petroleum products.
Meanwhile Mr. Hang’andu says Engen Petroleum Zambia Limited was fines the sum of 12, 000 kwacha for not complying with quality control and monitoring guidelines when it failed to maintain records of quality checks at its Mufulira Service Station.
He has however reminded all energy companies to continue adhering to license conditions and take enforcement action where breaches are observed.