eBusiness Weekly
THE Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) has with immediate effect banned the exportation of petroleum products without a valid licence issued by authorities.
According to an online publication, mmegi, in the past BERA had an arrangement with the Botswana Unified Revenue Service that allowed a person to export up to 100 litres for own use without the need for an export licence.
However, mmegi reports that the regulatory authority has announced that it has noted that such an arrangement was being abused by the fuel smugglers, hence the decision to rescind it until such a time when better means of addressing fuel smuggling would have been devised.
“The authority to temporarily prohibit export of petroleum products for own use is derived from Section 37(2) of the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority Act on exemption from the requirements of an export licence,” BERA was quoted as having said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera), which regulates the local energy and petroleum industry, was regularly launching blitz on illegal fuel dealers who were largely smuggling petroleum products into the country.
Petroleum products such as petrol and diesel were largely smuggled from neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.
Zera working with law enforcement agencies have arrested thousands of illegal fuel dealers across the country.
Last week, the energy regulatory authority announced that the price of blended petrol has slightly dropped effective December 21, 2022 while that of diesel remained unchanged.
In its latest review, Zera said blend petrol was now pegged at US$1,48 or $1 001,12 from US$1,50 or $1 007,45 per litre while diesel remained unchanged at US$1,62 having slightly increased from $1 090,38 to 1 094,04 per litre in local dollar.
This is the second time Zera has dropped fuel prices in a space of one week.
“Operators may sell the petroleum products below the prescribed prices depending on their trading advantages and should display prices in a prominent place as provided for by the fuel pricing regulations,” it said. – Mmegi/Business Weekly
