adminPaidamoyo Bore and Laura Maposa
ZIMBABWE Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has been hailed for creating a conducive environment for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators.
The uptake has increased.
The country has recorded an uptake of LPG for the past decade.
Speaking during a tour by a delegation from the Zambian Ministry of Energy, ZERA Senior Engineer, Andrew Guri, said:
“The Government and the regulatory board have put in place laws that are user-friendly to allow operators to conduct business easily since gas is the smartest energy to use.
“This has allowed more players to come on board and we have seen others operating in rural areas such as Kensysgas.
“To promote that as well, we are also lobbying for reduction of duties and taxes for LPG operations.”
Engineer Guri said the board offers training to operators, and individuals, who are in the gas sector, to ensure the safety of users.
The engineer said the regulatory board received a request from Zambia, if they could understudy and carry out a tour of development in the LPG sector.
Zambia Assistant Director in the Ministry of Energy, Mafayo Ziba, said gas uptake in their country was very low, and the rate of deforestation and use of charcoal was alarming.
Ziba said about 250 000 to 300 000 hectares of forest have been lost due to deforestation as people will be looking for firewood.
“We came to Zimbabwe because we have heard a success story in terms of how the LPG sector has grown.
“In Zambia, we have a problem of charcoal being used and about 70 percent of the population is using charcoal and firewood for cooking, and we have realised it is not good for the environment.
“So, we have started a journey to introduce gas as one of the fuels to use and we are encouraging our people to take it as a substitute and an alternative,” said Ziba.
He also hailed the Government for enabling a conducive environment for LPG players.
“I have learnt a few things here around the regulations, the standards and policies that are in place to provide that environment for this sector to grow.
“We have learnt what could have been the drivers to the growth of the sector as well since we have similar conditions because we also face load shedding in Zambia,” he added.
Kensys Gas Operations Director, Ronald Ndoro, said their organisation has marked rapid growth since they penetrated the sector.
“We started with selling 4kgs a day but now we are selling about 300 to 350 tonnes per month.
“The sector has improved significantly.
“However, in terms of licensing we feel like not much has been done and auditing licences to improve safety of users and dispensers of the product but it is an ongoing process,” said Ndoro.
He said they have noted that most people now wanted cleaner energy.
Online Reporter