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The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) has issued a stern warning to petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies, declaring that only fully compliant tanker trucks will be allowed to transport fuel within the country as government intensifies its crackdown on violations in the petroleum supply chain.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ZMA Executive Director, Humphrey Nkobeni, announced that the Agency had formally notified all fuel terminals, commercial depots, and retail sites across Zambia to immediately bar any tanker trucks that did not possess a valid verification certificate issued by the Agency.
“Any tanker truck without a valid verification certificate shall be deemed non-compliant and will not be permitted to load or offload petroleum products for commercial purposes,” Nkobeni warned, signalling the end of business-as-usual for operators flouting metrology laws.
The directive, grounded in the Metrology Act No. 6 of 2017 and the Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Regulations under Statutory Instrument No. 55 of 2021, applies to all petroleum tanker trucks operating in Zambia — including those involved in cross-border transportation and those registered under the Energy Regulation Act or any other written law.
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Nkobeni emphasized that strict adherence to verified compartment capacities was now mandatory, cautioning that tanker trucks must neither exceed nor fall short of the exact volumes specified on their Metrology Certificates during loading or transportation.
“Any deviation from the certified compartment capacities will be treated as a serious contravention of metrology requirements,” he said.
The Agency has further put the industry on notice that a nationwide inspection and enforcement programme will soon be rolled out.
He said transporters found in breach of the law will face tough enforcement measures, including possible prosecution, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Zambia.
Nkobeni said petroleum transporters have been urged to act without delay to ensure that all tanker trucks under their ownership or control were duly verified and fully compliant with the law.
He said the move was expected to tighten oversight in the fuel transportation sector, curb malpractice, and protect consumers by ensuring accuracy, fairness, and transparency in petroleum measurements.
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