ERB committed to curbing fuel vending in southern province

THE ENERGY Regulation Board (ERB) says it is committed to curbing fuel vending in southern province.

ERB senior regional manager Stephen Mwiinga said his office would soon undertake vigorous operations that would address the issue of selling fuel in the streets, a thing he said was very rampant in Livingstone.

Speaking during the ERB open day for the Livingstone office on Saturday Mr Mwiinga said ERB had engaged stakeholders such as councils and the state police to assist in curbing the vice.

“We have already begun discussions with the Livingstone City Council, the Fire Brigade and Zambia Police, who are key stakeholders in order to find a lasting solution to this problem that is on the rise,” Mr Mwiinga said.

He said the curbing of illegal fuel vending was not only an ERB issue but one that needed concerted efforts from all key stake holders.

“It is a matter of time, we are going to move in and remove the illegal fuel traders in Livingstone, we have also observed that it is quite rampant in the city,” he said.

Mr Mwiinga said the open day was meant to ensure the ERB is as close to the people as possible by having an open door policy.

“We are aware that the people have a lot of complaints about the energy sector as some people have problems with electricity. We would like to invite people to feel free and lodge in their complaints by coming to our office and we shall surely address their concerns,” he said.

Mr Mwiinga said that ERB would continue to ensure that it provides a platform for both consumers and energy sector providers in the’ country.

The ERB open day was also characterized by earth hour, where electricity power supply was temporally cut for about an hour in the night in the tourist capital.