. Mwansa
By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has applied to the Government to consider scrapping off or reducing tax on jet fuel in Zambia.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary, Charity Mwansa said in an interview that the ministry would first look at the application, thereafter forward it to the Ministry of Finance for further consideration.
She said subsequently, the two ministries would collaborate to make a favourable decision on the policy.
“ERB has raised an application on tax issues surrounding jet fuel and Government will look at it and make a decision after looking at the implications of going ahead with the policy,” she said.Ms Mwansa said players in the aviation industry had expressed relative concerns about the cost of jet fuel that was currently pegged at K6.51 per litre.
She said other than scrapping off or reducing tax on the commodity, there were other strategies that Government would implement to make jet fuel more affordable to consumers.
“These include exploring cheaper sources for the commodity and other cost effective measures such as reducing the cost of distribution locally,” she said.
She said Saudi Arabia was among several Middle-East countries that were being considered for the supply of cheaper fuel to Zambia. Others being Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
