ERB deepens fuel marking

THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has intensified marking of fuel throughout the country to ensure continued provision of the product to the public met specified Zambian technical standards.

Speaking during a community engagement meeting in Lusaka’s Chelstone Township, ERB engineer for fossil fuels Mweshi Kauti said fuel marking, which started on February 15, 2018, had so far seen the product at government depots in Ndola, Solwezi, Mpika, Mongu, and Lusaka marked.

Mr Kauti also said the marking was also being done at private depots belonging to Engen, Oryx, Puma, and Total that were importing low sulphur diesel for the mines and other allied industries.

“Right now ERB is marking all legitimate fuel destined for the local market on a continuous basis, as the fuel is being uplifted and we expect the marker to penetrate and saturate the Zambian petroleum supply chain by June 2018.

“There is no monitoring that is actually taking place at the moment because the marker has to show before we can start monitoring,” Mr Kauti said.

He said the marking was likely to take three months after which ERB would start monitoring of the marker level of concentration.

Mr. Kauti said the ERB would later start to detect adulteration, dumping; and enforce Statutory Instrument number 69 of 2017 on Petroleum Marking and Monitoring Regulations.

Mr Kauti explained that ERB was mandated to monitor the quality of petroleum products that were distributed and retailed throughout the country to guarantee maximum revenue for government, through the sale of legitimate fuel.

He said the marking would also help curb smuggling and dumping of fuel at service stations and consumer facilities.

The ERB engineer urged all oil marketing companies to comply during the marking process and ensure all legitimate fuel was marked to avoid the Board suspend or revoke licenses of licensees found in possession of or selling, and distributing non-conforming petroleum products.

“A person who commits an offence under these regulations, for which a penalty is not provided, is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding 100,000 penalty units (K30, 000 equivalent) or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or both,” he said.

Mr Kauti said fuel marking technology was the most effective intervention to control, minimize and eliminate fuel adulteration and dumping in Zambia.