By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

GOVERNMENT has challenged local fuel transporters to help the country reduce the cost of petroleum by charging reasonable prices for their services.
Ministry of Energy Permanent Secretary Charity Mwansa said yesterday at the petroleum industry consultative meeting in Ndola hosted by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) that the cost of fuel in Zambia was the highest in the region partly because of the transportation costs from the port, as Zambia was landlocked.
Ms Mwansa said it was for that reason that the transporters in the country should work on charging reasonably to help reduce the cost of fuel.
The Government, she said, had delivered on its promises to put more money in the transporters pockets by banning the issuance of fuel transportation licences to foreign transporters.
“Government is now depending on you Zambian transporters to look at the matter introspectively on how you can help your country reduce the cost of fuel. Do not be astronomical in your pricing because the high cost of fuel has effects on all other services in the country,” Ms Mwansa said.
She said there was need for Zambians to fully participate in the country’s energy sector and that was why Government responded to local transporters’ petitions to give them sole rights to transport fuel into and within the country.
In July this year, Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma directed ERB not to issue foreign fuel transporters licences to move fuel.
Ms Mwansa said Government was ready to negotiate with affected foreign transporters to see if they could broaden their ownership to include Zambians.
Ms Mwansa commended ERB for organising a meeting that would help improve the petroleum operations.
Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia president Roberto Sabbadin said he was happy that Government had heard their petitions and given them all the opportunities to transport fuel in Zambia.
Mr Sabbadin said four local transporting companies had folded due to lack of business and the intervention by Government was helpful.
Mr Sabbadin urged ERB to enforce the directive.
He said his association had challenges with Oil Marketing Companies because they were reluctant to give them the contracts to transport fuel and appealed to ERB and Government to intervene.
ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said since the directive by Mr Yaluma, the institution had embarked on a programme to attract more Zambians to invest in fuel transportation and the meeting was meant for the regulator to get meaningful feedback.