Uniform fuel pricing cheers Dickson Jere

By NATION REPORTER

FORMER State House aide Dickson Jere has welcomed Government’s move to introduce uniform fuel pricing, describing the policy as a progressive reform, but has urged Members of Parliament to carefully scrutinise the proposed law before its enactment.

Mr Jere said the proposed Petroleum Development and Management Bill of 2026, which seeks to repeal and replace the Petroleum Act of 1930, has the potential to transform the regulation of the petroleum sector if properly interrogated.

He said one of the key features of the Bill was the establishment of a Uniform Petroleum Pricing Fund aimed at ensuring equal retail fuel prices across the country. “The introduction of uniform fuel pricing is a great idea, as it seeks to address disparities in pump prices arising from transportation costs,” Mr Jere said.

Under the proposed law, fuel retailers whose transportation costs are lower than those factored into the pump price will be required to contribute to the Fund, while those incurring higher costs will be allowed to claim the difference, subject to approval by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB).

The Bill also provides that such claims will not be based on actual transportation costs incurred, but on costs approved by the regulator.

Mr Jere said while the framework appears structured, it is critical that lawmakers interrogate how these provisions will be implemented to avoid unintended consequences.

“This is a very important Bill and I hope Members of Parliament will find time to interrogate the nitty-gritty of the proposed law,” he said.

Mr Jere said the provisions relating to the open access of the TAZAMA Pipeline, which has long been a subject of debate and controversy in Zambia’s petroleum sector need more interrogation.

He said the Bill attempts to provide a legal framework for determining price differentials arising from the use of the pipeline in the importation of petroleum products.

“A holder of a licence to import petroleum products using a pipeline shall remit into the Energy Fund the transport differential between pipeline costs and the approved transportation cost,” Mr Jere said, citing