Energy Regulations Board (ERB) executive director Langiwe Lungu says the Sudanese government has expressed interest in supplying oil to Zambia.

According to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Naomi Nyawali, Lungu said her organisation had been approached by representatives from Sudan on that country’s interest to supply petroleum products to Zambia.

Lungu who was speaking on the sidelines of the on going 10th Africa Energy Conference being held in Sandton, South Africa, said ERB had recorded an increase in the number of Zambian registered companies applying for oil marketing and renewable energy licenses.

“The oil rich Republic of the Sudan has expressed interest in supplying oil to Zambia. And the Energy Regulation Board says if actualised, the move will help to reduce oil and fuel prices in Zambia. ERB will further refer the Sudanese government to the Ministry of Energy for further consultations. And the Board executive director mentioned that the interest expressed by Sudan was welcome as Zambia was looking for solutions in reducing fuel prices which had affected many people,” Nyawali stated.

And Nyawali stated that ERB attributed the increase in demand for licences in the oil and energy sectors to the allocation of quotas to the transportation and procurement of fuel and demand for alternative energy sources such as solar and liquefied petroleum gas.

“Ms Lung further observed that her organisation has recorded an increase in the number of local companies applying for oil marketing licenses following increased demand and business opportunities. She said a total 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 what was previously the case,” stated Nyawali.

“Ms Lungu attributed the increase in demand for licences in the oil and energy sectors to the allocation of quotas to the transportation and procurement of fuel as well as the demand of alternative energy sources such as solar and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). She added that Zambia was engaging Kenya and South Africa to help in formulating regulatory framework including building capacity in the geothermal and wind energy sectors respectively that the country was trying to develop.”

Speaking at the same event, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba 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.

Mwamba was quoted saying: “Zambia is investing in energy infrastructure such as transmission lines to help bring some areas on the national grid as well as export power to needy countries.”