Friday, March 29, 2024

ERB introduces construction licenses for petroleum infrastructure in the country

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Energy Regulations Board (ERB) offices
Energy Regulations
Board (ERB) offices

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has introduced a construction license aimed at helping improve its regulatory oversight in the siting and construction of petroleum infrastructure in the country.

One of the functions of ERB as stipulated in section 6 (c) of the ERB act relates to the regulation of siting of energy infrastructure for both technical and economic reasons.

ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said the petroleum sub-sector has seen the highest concentration of filling stations mainly in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces at the expense of rural areas where some districts do not have a single retail site.

Ms. Lungu said in a statement issued to media yesterday that the new measure has been prompted by the need to discourage overcrowding in urban areas.

She also explained that the proliferation of stations in high public traffic areas such as markets and drinking places has heightened safety concerns.

Ms. Lungu added that ERB will engage other stakeholders to ensure that safety, health and environmental protection matters are not compromised for the interest of energy consumers.

8 COMMENTS

  1. You should also involve Councils that do the Planning unlike doing it from the office that’s why we can’t enforce certain regulations!

  2. We should just accept that there has been no legal framework to guade against such constructions, if it was there then it was never enforced in the past. As @Kalanga stated, there should be close liason with the councils to have thes stations well placed within the district to avoid unfoseeable dangers to the communities or industries located close to them. This is also a long over due approach. The previous ERBs, were all out to just get allowances for their pockets, VERY SAD INDEED what a Zambian can do. This is all about enlightenment again and lack of anlysis of issues impcting on our society. Knowledgeable people should be put in such positions, not just because one has been around for years and speaks with dignity is elligible, NO, we need expertise here, in particular fields.

  3. One case in point is the new filling station located next to the intercity bus terminus here in Lusaka.That space should have been utilized to extend the bus terminus mwe bantu

  4. ERB has been a disservice to the country. They have done nothing to protect the consumers to the point it has taken his excellence to stop ZESCO from adjusting tariffs for the next two years. Those this step in the face of weakening kwacha may hate ZESCO in the long run.

  5. One hopes this is not another gimmick of introducing YET ANOTHER TAX on the dealers that ultimately will be heaped on the already bloated tax basket for fuel. Taxes explain the extremely high prices we pay for fuel in Zambia. We didn’t need this ERB thing in the form it is; it should have been adhoc, part-time; not deserving of office infrastructure we see.

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