Energy Regulation Board Fines 17 Energy Companies for Licence Breaches
In a bid to uphold compliance and standards within the energy sector, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has imposed fines totaling K585,000.00 on seventeen energy companies for breaching licence conditions. The infringements include failure to submit financial returns and operating without the necessary licences.
The companies facing penalties for failing to submit financial returns for the period 2018 to date are Golis Petroleum Limited, Karan Investments, Ndola Lime Company Limited, Simba Energy Limited, Alpha Enterprises Limited, Gold Mobil Limited, Cashfin Zambia Limited, Cohesion Investments Limited, Bushra Energy Zambia Limited, Phitch Investments Limited, Brassco Limited Lake, Trans Logistics Limited, and Chrismar Earth Moving Equipment Limited. Each of these entities has been fined K30,000.
Harvest Group of Companies has been penalized with a K45,000 fine for exceeding the total licensed capacity, which goes against the stipulations in clause 2.5 of the Licence to Retail Petroleum Products. Kapesika Petroleum and Logistics Limited has been fined K30,000 for neglecting to notify the ERB of changes to company particulars, a violation of the Licence to Transport Petroleum Products. Uno Energies faces a K45,000 fine for unauthorized variation of site layout, while Lushomo Service Station Limited has been fined K75,000 for operating without a Licence from the ERB.
During the enforcement hearings, the fined licensees were granted the opportunity to present their cases. However, the ERB found the aforementioned licensees to be in violation of their licence conditions and subsequently imposed the specified penalties.
In response to these breaches, the ERB has issued a directive to all licensed energy sector companies, urging them to strictly adhere to their licence conditions and established standards. The board emphasizes that it will not hesitate to take punitive measures against any licensees found in violation, in order to ensure the continued provision of sustainable, reliable, and high-quality energy services and products.
