Fuel Shortage Concerns Prompt Regulatory Action

A joint regulatory response has been launched in Zambia after authorities continued receiving complaints of fuel shortages and measurement discrepancies in the petroleum supply chain.

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) said they have intensified enforcement of new guidelines aimed at improving transparency, accountability and consistency in the measurement of petroleum products during storage and transportation.

The measures follow the introduction of mandatory calibrated dip sticks and certified dip charts by ZMA in February 2026, a move intended to improve the accuracy and traceability of fuel measurements nationwide.

On 3 June 2026, the ERB directed all licensed petroleum industry participants to fully implement the Guidelines for the Application of Storage and In-transit Losses in Zambia. The guidelines require verified measurements at both loading and offloading depots and discontinue the practice of automatic penalty deductions without verification.

Despite those interventions, the two regulators say they continue to receive reports of operational challenges affecting implementation. These include failure by some oil marketing companies to use bulk flow meters as the primary measurement instrument, non-compliance with prescribed dispute-resolution procedures and the loading of tanker compartments beyond their approved calibrated capacities.

In response, ERB and ZMA have launched nationwide training and sensitisation programmes targeting depot operators, transporters, drivers and other industry stakeholders.

The regulators have also established a multi-sectoral task team comprising representatives from government and the private sector to identify implementation gaps, review operational challenges and recommend practical solutions to improve compliance and measurement integrity.

The agencies further announced a formal complaints-resolution mechanism under which all reports of alleged fuel shortages will be investigated and resolved within a reasonable timeframe.

ERB and ZMA warned that compliance with regulatory directives is mandatory and that any entity found violating applicable laws, licence conditions or approved guidelines may face administrative, regulatory or legal sanctions.

The development places renewed focus on fuel measurement accuracy and consumer protection in Zambia’s petroleum sector, with the regulators saying they remain committed to ensuring that fuel products are accurately quantified and that any reported discrepancies are investigated promptly and transparently.