Local Fuel Transporters have expressed mixed feelings over government’s policy to configure the Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipeline to transport Low Sulphur fuel and Kerosene from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania to Ndola.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ndola, the transporters fear that even though it is a progressive move it will likely stifle local transporters.
The different voices echoed at the meeting claim, currently, they have been hit hard by the dominance of foreigner importers of fuel hence their future hangs in the balance.
Petroleum Association of Zambia (PTAZ) Secretary, Benson Tembo, who was a lead speaker says despite the setbacks suffered his members have made significant strides from having previously owned fifty tankers to now owning one thousand three hundred.
Mr. Tembo has since implored government to support the progression by supporting PTAZ to have a fair share of the business.
Meanwhile, Minister of Energy, Peter Kapala who was also in attendance alongside Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo, has assured the local business community that no foreign suppliers will be allowed to transport low Sulphur fuel and Kerosene because it will be a sole mandate of TAZAMA.
Mr. Kapala says contrary to fears by local petroleum transporters of losing business to the pipeline, the system will instead give them an opportunity to source the product from Ndola and transport it countrywide.
By Lovemore Sondashi
