ERB issues 116 operational licences
By Business Reporter
THE Energy Regulations Board (ERB) issued 116 operational licences to different companies from the energy sector in 2003.
The large number of licenses was attributed to the board’s decision to issue licences to each filling station individually for the purpose of monitoring.
According to the ERB news letter obtained in Lusaka yesterday, 107 licences were issued to the petroleum sector, two from the electricity sector and seven from other forms of energy.
The news letter also states that one licence was suspended this year due to the undertaking contravening the conditions of the licence.
It, however, did not name the company whose licences had been suspended.
Under the same period of review, one undertaking was also served with a notice to cease operations for operating without a licence from the ERB as required by law.
Meanwhile ERB says that there is need to develop national solar energy systems standard in Zambia.
The board states that the absence in Zambia of solar energy system standards is bound to aggravate the situation considering that some unscrupulous companies supply and install deficient solar systems and do not provide after-sales service.
It states that solar energy technology offers an attractive alternative for providing electricity services to meet various needs such as lighting, water pumping, refrigeration and irrigation.
However, ERB says that solar technologies require special skills for their successful implementation.
“To this end, it is pertinent that measures be taken at national level to ensure the solar energy technologies and practices contributed to meeting the basic energy needs of remote communities,” it said.
