Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, has announced that fuel stations and resellers may now fill drums, cans, or other containers with fuel, provided customers offer a valid reason, even if they do not possess a Consumer Installation Certificate.
“The Ministry is hereby instructing all fuel retail outlets and resellers alike to request for satisfactory explanations and use proper discretion before filling up the fuel drums or petroleum products jerry cans of farmers, business operators, and other citizens who would otherwise require to purchase fuel for purposes other than hoarding or panic buying,” Amutse said.
This follows an earlier directive requiring service stations to refuel directly into customers’ vehicles or machinery for a period of three months and to avoid filling additional containers during that time, except for customers with a Consumer Installation Certificate. The initial measure was aimed at preventing excessive purchasing and fuel hoarding.
The ministry has since revised its stance, noting that many farmers and business operators do not hold Consumer Installation Certificates but still need to fill drums and jerry cans for their agricultural and business activities.
“The Ministry acknowledges that there are many farmers, various business operators such as those in the tourism sector, and other citizens out there who normally buy fuel from time to time by filling up their fuel drums and petroleum products jerry cans for use in their genuine farming, business and other activities, and that such farmers, business operators and other citizens do not fill up their fuel drums and petroleum products jerry cans for the purposes of fuel hoarding or panic buying. In addition, the Ministry is fully aware that not all farmers, business operators and other citizens are in possession of consumer installation certificates,” Amutse explained.
He further instructed licensed fuel wholesalers, retailers, and dealers to help curb panic buying and fuel hoarding by educating customers on the purpose of the temporary measures introduced for the next three months.
“Thus, the fuel marketing managers at each outlet countywide should be able to identify the legitimate and bona fide farmers, project contractors, businesses, tourism operators, and individuals, etc., by either requesting for satisfactory explanations or physical proof of their activities, and using proper discretion thereof in order to assist fellow Namibians that are truly in need of bulk fuel for their operations out there,” Amutse continued.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Flickr
