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The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has stepped up compliance monitoring in the petroleum subsector following an increase in the number of licensed operators, ERB Director General Elijah Sichone has said.
Speaking at an end of year press briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday, Sichone said the regulator had introduced a risk-based compliance monitoring approach, similar to what is used in the electricity subsector, to improve adherence to national standards.
“With the increased number of licensees in the petroleum subsector, the ERB has implemented the risk-based compliance monitoring approach in order to enhance adherence to national standards, codes and guidelines,” Sichone said.
He explained that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were required to conduct compliance audits of their infrastructure and systems and submit reports to the ERB as part of their licence conditions.
The ERB said it carried out validation audits in the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
“In the third and fourth quarters of 2025, the ERB undertook audits of petroleum infrastructure to validate the reports received from OMCs,” he said.
Sichone disclosed that audits of 27 bulk fuel storage depots showed an average compliance level of 86.3 percent, below the 95 percent target.
Fourteen bulk liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) depots recorded an average compliance rate of 91.7 percent, exceeding the 90 percent target, while 406 filling stations achieved an average compliance rate of 88.7 percent, against a 95 percent benchmark.
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He warned that enforcement action would follow where standards were not met.
“Oil marketing companies whose infrastructure did not meet the prescribed compliance targets will be summoned for technical hearings for possible enforcement in the first quarter of 2026. These OMCs have also been issued with specific timelines within which to rectify and close the identified anomalies,” Sichone said.
On fuel quality, Sichone said the ERB continued to implement the fuel marking programme to curb fuel adulteration, commonly known as changanya, as well as smuggling and dumping.
“Fuel marking is aimed at curbing fuel adulteration, detecting dumping and smuggling, which not only compromise the quality of petroleum products on the market but also deprive Government of much-needed revenue and promote unfair competition,” he said.
He explained that fuel marking involves dosing all legitimately imported petrol, diesel and kerosene with a uniquely formulated biochemical marker before release into the local market, followed by monitoring throughout the supply chain.
“Any changes to the concentration of the marker downstream would indicate adulteration, smuggling or dumping between the dispatch port and that location,” Sichone said.
According to him, between January 1 and November 30, 2025, about 2.4 million cubic metres of petroleum products destined for the domestic market were marked.
During the same period, nationwide sampling and testing recorded an overall compliance rate of 87 percent in the first half of the year, improving to a preliminary 91.8 percent in the third quarter.
Sichone further revealed that the ERB piloted on-site product quality testing alongside fuel marking exercises, with 309 samples tested and a compliance rate of 95.8 percent achieved.
“Once fully rolled out, the on-site indicative product quality testing will enhance the ERB’s capacity to ensure that petroleum products on the market are of acceptable quality,” he said.
He added that the ERB had continued to facilitate coordinated raids on smuggling entry points and illegal fuel vending hotspots in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
“During the period under review, raids conducted in Eastern, Western and North-Western provinces resulted in the seizure of 19,578 litres of fuel and the arrest of 68 suspects,” Sichone said.
Of those arrested, 39 have been convicted and fined, while 29 cases remain pending before the courts.
Sichone reaffirmed the ERB’s commitment to protecting consumers, safeguarding fuel quality and promoting fair competition in the petroleum subsector.
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