11 Oct 2020

Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) initiates several projects aimed at optimising the current market structure for petroleum and gas sub-sectors.

Speaking during the Parliament Committee on Governance meeting on October 9, BERA chief executive officer Ms Rose Seretse said a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) study had been commissioned objectively to assist in the restructuring of the LPG industry.

Ms Seretse said that they were looking to enhance understanding of commercial operations and to inform regulatory decision on price regulation.

She indicated that the Authority was also developing a robust fuel marking programme for Botswana to safeguard the quality of petroleum products consumed in the country.  

The programme was further expected to address challenges of fuel smuggling, product adulteration, illegal fuel dumping and tax evasion, among others. 

To this point, she said, a business case had been developed and the project was currently at procurement phase. 

Meanwhile, regarding development and enhancement of regulatory framework, Parliament has approved the amendments to the BERA Act in March 2020, she said.

“The Petroleum Products Regulations, Complaints Settlement Procedure and LPG Regulations, which will enhance the regulation of the energy sector, are at advanced stages of drafting at the Attorney General’s Chambers,” she said.

Ms Seretse highlighted that the Authority was mandated to issue licenses of regulated activities and to this end the Authority had issued 119 licenses and rejected 3 applications since its inception. ends