15 August 2013, Kampala – The escalation of counterfeited fuel remains among the leading bottlenecks facing Uganda’s petroleum sector, a case that requires concerted effort by government and private players in the industry, a dealer has noted.
Some private players in the market are concerned that much as the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, UNBS, is trying to respond to the problem, some dealers still take advantage of the existing loopholes to dump unacceptable fuel into the country.
In the end, vehicle owners are cheated and face mechanical problems, while the government loses revenue.
According to the outgoing managing director Total Uganda Ada Eze, the continued entry of fuel that doesn’t measure up to the required quality standards is detrimental to the economy and the businesses dealing in the sector.
“We need to keep up the zeal of working with UNBS and other partners in this business on mutual fuel safety in usage and transportation standards to create an environment of fair competition and ensure that we significantly contribute to this country’s economic development in terms of tax revenue,” she said.
Eze was addressing journalists at Kampala Serena Hotel on Tuesday during a press conference that preceded a diner to bid farewell to her and welcome her successor Imrane Barry.
In the same line of quality assurance, UNBS recently acquired two computerised mobile fuel testing laboratories developed by Global Fluids International (GFI), specialists in verification and energy security technologies to clamp down on adulterated fuel.
Barry noted that his new assignment serves as another opportunity for him to contribute to the growth of Total Uganda, being part the Multinational Corporation.
“Sustaining business is about satisfying customers, which is key in our core values; I also remain optimistic that with the emergency of the middle class, the future of our business in this country is brighter,” he said.
Barry has been working with Total for 17 years in various capacities moving to different countries where the Group has operations.
– David Ssempijja and Samuel Sanya, New Vision