(Lusaka Times)Board (ERB) offices The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has disclosed that Sudan has taken interest in supplying oil to Zambia.
ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said ERB has recorded an increase in the number of Zambian registered companies applying for oil marketing and renewable energy licenses.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by the First Secretary Press and Public Relations at the South African Embassy Naomi Nyawali .
Speaking on the sidelines of the 10th Africa Energy Conference being held in Sandton, South Africa, Ms. Lungu said her organization has been approached by a delegation of the representative of the Sudanese government on the possibilities of the country supplying oil to Zambia.
She said if actualized, the move will help to reduce oil and fuel prices in Zambia adding that ERB will refer the Sudanese government to the Ministry of Energy for further consultations.
Ms. Lungu said the interest shown by Sudan was welcome as Zambia was looking for solutions in reducing fuel prices which has affected many people.
She said a total number of 96 standard licences and 85 provisional licences were last year issued in different sectors of the oil and energy sectors showing an increase in the licences issued to local companies unlike in the past.
Ms. Lungu said the increase in demand for licences in the oil and energy sectors can be attributed to the allocation of quotas to the transportation and procurement of fuel as well as the demand alternative energy sources such as Solar and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
She said Zambia was engaging Kenya and South Africa to help in formulating regulatory framework including building capacity in the geothermal and wind energy sectors respectively.
Speaking at the same event, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba has expressed happiness that Zambia was applauded for being one of the African countries that embraced renewable energy in addition to traditional hydro and thermal energy use.
Mr. Mwamba said Zambia was investing in energy infrastructure such as transmission lines to help bring some areas on the national grid as well as export power to need countries.