ERB extends petroleum transportation hours

By Ruth Chayinda

The Energy Regulation Board -ERB- has extended the hours for Oil Marketing Companies -OMCs- to transport petroleum products from 18 hours to 22 hours.

ERB Director-General ELIJAH SICHONE says this will allow the oil tankers to drive beyond their prescribed time limit of 18 hours to allow the transportation of the petroleum products into the depots.

Mr SICHONE says beyond the extended hours authorised by the board, OMCs will need to seek authority from the Road Transport Safety Agency -RTSA.

He says OMCs that desire to take advantage of the extension will be expected to inform the Authority so that the given written clearance .

Mr SICHONE has said at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the delay in the importation of fuel into the country is due to congestion at the ports.

And Mr SICHONE has disclosed that the country has sufficient petroleum products in the country, covering over 7 days .

He said as of today the country has 32.2 million litres of diesel covering 8 days against a daily consumption of 4.2 million while available petrol stands at 12.4 million litres against a daily consumption of 1.6 million litres.