The Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia PTAZ says despite the stringent measures being undertaken by the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA, Zambia Bureau of Standards and the Energy Regulatory Board ERB, on the Zambian tankers, it is unfortunate that some foreign fuel tankers are being exempted from inspections as they rely on mutual recognition.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT – PTAZ Secretary General Benson Tembo said, foreign tankers are currently being exempted from inspections considering that they are inspected by the respective countries and that they can just come into the country a situation he said do not happen to Zambian fuel tankers when they go in other countries as they are subjected to inspections.
He said the situation has allowed some foreign tankers with effects to bring fuel to the country suggesting that foreign fuel tankers are supposed to be sub-contracted by licensed transporters in Zambia who understand the Zambian standards.
“If they are subcontracted by the Zambian licensed transporters, Zambian transporters will then take full responsibility to make sure that the tankers meet the Zambian standards unlike what is happening today where the tankers are found on the road without any inspection at the boarder or point of discharge.” He said.
Tembo since called on the intuitions mandated to inspect fuel tankers such as the Energy Regulatory Board ERB, Zambia Bureau of Standards, and the Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA among others to up their game in as far as inspecting foreign tankers is concerned.
He said there is need for the institutions such as ERB, Zambia Bureau of standards and all other institutions involved to do better and be fair than they have done in the past adding that the issue of allowing foreign tankers bringing fuel in the country without inspection must be stopped as it is costing Zambians.
Tembo said the approach must be changed and foreign tankers should be sub-contracted by the Zambian transporters licensed by the ERB or any other institution so that they are able to take full responsibility and make sure that they only allow tracks that meet the Zambian standards.
“Currently what we are seeing and learning is that we have encouraged foreign companies and if we ask the OMCs they say they don’t contract the foreign tankers but they are contracted by the people who are supplying them fuel.”
“I can buy a tanker today and I have to wait for 8 months for me to put that tanker on the road in Zambia while my colleague in Zimbabwe will buy a tanker and put it on the road even tomorrow, so you can see the difference hence the need to adhere to the provision of the Zambian set up and then those suppliers supplying fuel must also abide by the regulation.”
Meanwhile, PTAZ has challenged government to build safe parking spaces for fuel tankers that meet the set standards across the country. he said this will help the country boost its revenue collections.
