OMCS DEMAND TRACKING OF OIL MOVEMENT

By PETER SICHALI THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) should introduce a system to track movement of fuel so that it does not end up on the black market, Oil Marketing Companies Association of Zambia (OMCAZ) president Kafula Mubanga has said. Dr Mubanga said there is need to enhance monitoring mechanisms to reduce irregularities in the fuel value chain. Dr Mubanga said fuel was a very sensitive sector and that a system must be put in place that will monitor movement of fuel from the point of entry through to the final destination. “ERB should introduce a tracking system for fuel movement and enhance security to avoid artificial shortages and other illegal practices that may affect the fuel value chain,” Dr Mubanga said. Recently, the ERB warned that it will firmly deal with illegal fuel vendors and staff at some retail sites that are conniving to cause artificial fuel shortages. ERB Public Relations Manager Kwali Mfuni said there is an emergence of the black market for fuel in service areas to take advantage of the artificial shortage being compounded by speculative buying of fuel.