As part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and its peers on the African continent, the Chief Executive of the petroleum downstream regulator, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has embarked on a working visit to Zambian Energy Regulatory Board (ERB).
The NPA boss said his outfit has helped their Zambian counterparts to fight fuel adulteration through various engagements over the years including the institution of the fuel marking programme.
Briefing the media on the visit, Dr Abdul-Hamid was elated to know that since the successful launch and rollout of the fuel marking in Zambia, the programme has chalked major success.
He mentioned product quality compliance rate at the retail outlet has increased to over 96% and illegal fuel vendors have been successfully prosecuted and convicted.
The NPA boss said despite Ghana’s major successes in the fuel marking programme, “we still want to learn from the Zambian programme to help us improve on our operations in the field of fuel marking and regulation, as well as foster a healthy collaboration in the area of fuel integrity monitoring between our institutions”.
Dr Abdul-Hamid, accompanied by Ghana High Commissioner to Zambia, Her Excellency Ms. Iddrisu Khadija together with some NPA board and management members visited the ERB head office in Lusaka.
The tour is premised on major successes achieved by the fuel marking programme in both countries and to share lessons on the implementation of the fuel marking programme with the view of improving current operations.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid noted that before the Zambian regulatory body began its implementation of the fuel marking programme in 2017, they sent a seven-member team to understudy Ghana’s model of the petroleum product marking scheme in 2015.
He said the Zambian team was taken through the programme set-up, staffing, contractor & subcontractor payments, margins, benefits, challenges, legislation, among others.
Fast forward, Dr Abdul-Hamid said ERB sent another two-group delegation in 2018 comprising of key fuel marking operational staff, senior management, and board to interact with NPA to gain further insights on the roll out and implementation of both the marking and monitoring activities of the Ghana fuel marking programme.
These, according to him, have culminated in the successes chalked by the Zambian Energy Regulatory Board (ERB).
The ERB is a statutory body charged with the responsibility of regulating the energy sector in Zambia.
It is generally responsible for ensuring that energy enterprises earn a reasonable rate of return on their investments and consumers are given quality products and service.
