By Scoop Reporter
THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has directed all importers, suppliers, distributors, and transporters of petroleum products to desist from the parking of fuel tankers in undesignated parking areas to ensure public safety.
Public Relations Manager Namukolo Kasumpa says previously, the Board has issued a directive for all transporters of petroleum products to only park at designated locations in order to not endanger public safety in the event of an accident.
Ms. Kasumpa says this reminder comes in the wake of the recent unfortunate incident where a fuel tanker reported to have been carrying 45,000 litres of petroleum products, caught fire in Lusaka’s industrial area, along Mungwi Road.
She says to ensure compliance to the directive, the ERB has guided that going forward, fuel tankers that are not scheduled to load, offload or to undergo the fuel marking process at any of the fuel storage depots or service stations, shall not be allowed to park along any roads or in undesignated areas.
“In that regard, importers, suppliers, distributors and transporters of petroleum products are required to ensure that their fuel tankers are parked only in designated areas approved by the Local Authorities. It should be emphasised that designated areas for parking of fuel tankers do not include residential areas and/or service stations.
“Failure to comply with the above directive shall constitute a breach of licence conditions and or of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 and may result in legal action being taken against the erring entity. Therefore, members of the public are encouraged to report any transporters found in breach of this directive to the ERBI as indiscriminate parking poses a grave danger to the public,” Ms. Kasumpa said.
