‘Resolve Mozambique fuel haulage obstacles’

GOVERNMENT has been urged to resolve fuel haulage hindrances before they cause a crisis.

The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) fear that fuel haulage into Zambia may be hampered if authorities in Mozambique restrict the number of tankers loading the commodity at the Beira port.

Authorities in that country have already slapped a US $60 penalty on any track that would be found within the premises a day after loading as a measure to prevent on crowding in the wake of the Coronavirus disease. According to a notice made available to the Daily Nation, customs clearance is only up to 16:30 while parking spaces are only found about 50 kilometres from the port.

Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, PTAZ secretary general Benson Tembo said while the situation in Mozambique was still favourable, there were indications that things may get out of hand with a few restrictions being implemented. Mr. Tembo said if more restrictions will be implemented, it will not only impinge on upturn time which will hit the transporters hard, but will also have an effect on fuel haulage into the country.

“For now, the situation is not bad except that we expect some restrictions on the number of trucks loading per day. Most of the regulations coming out are restricting the number of people to be at one place and that is where we will have a challenge.

“This is because there are no parking spaces in Beira. We can only access these facilities about 40 to 50 kilometres away from the port. So, if they restrict the number of trucks to be at the port, it will be a challenge on the parking and we hope that if that is put in place, there must be alternatives,” Mr. Tembo said. He said already, the US $60 penalty slapped on tankers that spend a night at the port were preventive as each truck was already subjected to US $30 payment upon entry into the port.