GOVERNMENT and players in the petroleum sector have agreed
on a host of measures in the dealing of the precious commodity, which has been
scarce since the end of last year with its trading characterised by some illegalities.
The agreements were reached on Wednesday at a meeting that
brought together the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Advocate Fortune
Chasi, officials from Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) and petroleum
sector representatives.
The indaba was triggered by the fuel policy changes
introduced last week that saw Government removing a subsidy on fuel imports.
Among the measures agreed upon, was the need for an
efficient and effective system to coordinate the distribution of fuel to ensure
it is availed rationally in accordance with demand.
ZERA has since been tasked by the parent minister to come
up with a comprehensive report mapping and detailing consumer demand trends.
In addition, Government is also looking into introducing an
electronic monitoring system for the entire fuel value chain to curb corruption
at service stations.
Last week ZERA increased prices of fuel by averages of 46
percent for blend petrol and 49 percent for diesel. The increase followed the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) directive to fuel importers to obtain foreign
currency on the obtaining interbank market rates.
Previously, oil marketing companies were receiving foreign
currency from the RBZ at a special rate of 1:1 between the US dollar and RTGS
dollar.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Minister of Energy
and Power Development Fortune Chasi said Government was coming up with
interventions to help restore sanity in the fuel sector.
“I held a meeting with the (players in the fuel) industry
yesterday (Wednesday), all stakeholders in the petroleum industry were
represented and we agreed to meet regularly, that is quarterly,” he said.
“I emphasised the need for professionalism in the conduct
of their business. In particular, I said that they must observe licence
conditions.
“I also emphasised the need for self-regulation and should
this fail, I will have no choice, but to initiate legal reforms to compel
compliance.
“I also said that there is need for coordination in
distribution, so that fuel is distributed rationally and deliberately in
accordance with needs.
‘‘They (fuel players) are working on this with ZERA and I
expect it soon.
“In addition, we were all agreed on the need to establish
and ensure order in the industry. In that connection, I pointed out that I am
actively looking into electronic monitoring of the entire value chain of the
industry.
ZERA acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani
said they were already taking action to curb hoarding of fuel.
He said service stations had been directed to dispense a
maximum 600 litres of fuel to an individual, stop fuelling bowser and those
intending to purchase fuel in jerry cans, will be served at a know your
customer basis.
“However, these new measures excludes any prior
arrangements that had been made between service stations and customers.
“We are also looking at gaps in the law to see how it can
be amended to ensure we have more powers.
“ZERA is also working on setting up real time online
monitoring system which will be installed at service stations.
“We will continue monitoring compliance from service
stations and checking quality of fuel from around the country.”
Zimbabwe has been experiencing fuel shortages over the past
few months with some fuel traders accused of channelling the commodity to the
black market.
Foreigners have also been accused of hoarding the commodity
and selling it in neighbouring countries. Sunday Mail
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