ERB fines oil companies

The Energy Regulation Board has fined three licenses belonging to SGC Investment Limited, Engen Petroleum Zambia and Kobil Zambia Limited and severely warned Ravasia and Lake Petroleum Limited and Oasis Oil Zambia for various breaches of their license conditions.

SGC was fine K48, 000 as penalty for off-loading fuel at its Broadway Filling Station in Ndola using a foreign tanker contrary to Quality Control and Monitoring Guidelines which stipulate that imported products should be offloaded at a bulk depot and be re-certified before delivery to a filing station.

Engen was slapped with a fine of K24, 000 for failing to report fuel contamination within the stipulated 24-hour period during which 10 vehicles were sold contaminated fuel at its Cross Roads Filing Station in Lusaka.

And Kobil was fined a K16, 800 for failing to provide ancillary services such as water, clean sanitation, functioning air compressors and fire extinguishers at some of its sites.

However, those issued with warnings did not have safety and health systems at their filling stations.

This is contained in a statement made available to the media by ERB Public Relations Manager Kwali Mfuni.

Mr Mfuni says all companies operating in the energy sector are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with ERB license conditions and standards to ensure compliance