. Yaluma

By SARAH TEMBO –
THE Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) has petitioned Government to probe the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) over issuance of licences to foreign transporters.
PTAZ spokesperson Benson Tembo said the associations had noticed illegalities in the manner licences were been issued to foreign transporters by ERB and RTSA.
Mr Tembo said despite a policy directive by Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma to stop issuance of licences to foreign transporters, ERB had continued doing so.
Mr Tembo said this yesterday in Lusaka during an emergency indaba held at Mulungushi International conference centre.
Mr Tembo further stated that there were conflicting statements between the Zambia Bureau of Standard (ZABS) and ERB concerning issuance of licences and the number of trucks foreign transporters were operating.
“For example, ERB told the minister that superstar forwarding company was given a licence for 10 trucks but it was later discovered that they were given for 30 trucks.
“But the statement given by ERB was contrary to what was given by ZABS,” he said.
Mr Sabbadin also said Zambian Transporting companies were not allowed to do business in foreign companies hence he saw no reason why foreigners should displace Zambian transporters.
PTAZ President Roberto Sabbadin said ERB and RTSA were incapable of complying with Governments laws set up for the protection of the energy
Mr Yaluma said Government would not allow any institution to frustrate its effort of trying to empower local transporters in the petroleum sector.
Mr Yaluma, however, dismissed allegations that ERB went against his policy directive because the investigations carried indicate that there was no diversion.
Mr Yaluma said currently ERB was following the necessary procedure required for the implementation of the new licencing guidelines on empowering Zambian transporters in the petroleum sector.