By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) has recorded a 100 per cent growth and describes 2018 as a good year for business.
PTAZ general secretary Benson Tembo said in an interview that the sector recorded staggering growth this year with transporters growing capacity in the transportation of imported fuel from 50 to 320 tankers
“Government awarded us with 50 percent contracts in the transportation of imported fuel, we have managed to grow capacity and created jobs for more than 1000 Zambians,” he said.
Mr Tembo said monthly invoices for imported fuel grew from $300,000 to $1million this year and that the figure was likely to increase further.
He commended Government for empowering locals by awarding them with 50 percent contract to transport imported fuel and expressed hope that the sector would continue to record growth and create jobs for the locals.
Mr Tembo however called on local transporters especially indigenous Zambians to invest in the fuel transportation business because it was a lucrative business that had the potential to grow the economy and create more jobs.
He also appealed to Government through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to reserve the sector to locals as they have evidently shown that they were capable of handling the sector.
Mr Tembo said reserving the sector to locals would create more opportunities for Zambians to invest in the fuel transportation business.