By FARAJA MGWABATI, 29th December 2011 @ 18:30, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 4126
FIVE petrol stations are to be closed down and their licences suspended for failure to comply with Energy and Water Regulatory Authority's (Ewura) new indicative prices announced a fortnight ago.
The petrol stations are GBP Petrol Station (Sinza), Camel Oil (Veterinary), Camel Oil (Tabata), GAPCO (Mbagala Rangi Tatu) and Camel Petrol Stations (Arusha) owned by Madar Enterprises.
Ewura's Board of Directors reached the decisions on Thursday after the petrol stations failed to provide satisfactory explanations to the regulator on why they should not be punished for violating regulations.
The Principal Communications and Public Relations Officer, Mr Titus Kaguo, told the 'Daily News' on Thursday that the traders were served with a compliance order last week but did not provide proper explanations.
"GBP Petrol station refused to receive our compliance order, therefore they will automatically be shut down and their licence revoked," Mr Kaguo said.
He said the Arusha based Camel Oil Petrol Station will be closed down and given seven days to explain why severe punishment, including suspension of their licence, should not be taken against them. The station did not sell oil while they had enough stock.
"We have referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) with a request that charges on economic crimes be instituted to the operators for hoarding petroleum products," Mr Kaguo explained.
Mwenge filling station will face suspension of licence, Mr Kaguo said, adding that all decisions were taken in accordance to various sections of the Ewura Act.
Meanwhile, Mr Kaguo has said that the current fuel shortages in various regions were caused by heavy rains that pounded Dar es Salaam and other parts of the country just a day after they announced the new indicative prices on 19th of this month.
"When the market is disturbed in Dar es Salaam, it sends signals to other regions," he said adding that the infrastructure was destroyed and transportation of oil were disrupted.
He said he was confident that by the end of this week supply of the commodity would go back to normal.
However, he said in order to be sure with what is going on, they have dispatched inspectors in three zones of Southern Highlands, Lake and Northern.
"Those who will be found guilty of going against the business conduct will be punished in accordance with the law," he added.
Reports from Kilimanjaro, Rukwa, Iringa and Bukoba showed that there were severe shortage of the commodity forcing consumers to pay up to five times of indicative prices.
In Kilimanjaro one litre of petrol was sold up to 3,000/- from 1,950/-, Rukwa sold up to 10,000/- from 2,165 indicative price and Bukoba was at 2,500/-.
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