Mohloai Mpesi
THE Petroleum Fund and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) have joined forces to combat criminal activities that continue to intensify within the fuel industry.
According to Petroleum Fund Head of Operations, Lebohang Makhoali, the Fund faces significant challenges, including the illegal importation of fuel from neighbouring countries.
He complained about companies involved in the ongoing Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II in Mokhotlong which he said had found ways to bring fuel into the country illegally for their operations, bypassing the required revenue payments.
However, he was unable to provide an estimate of losses due to the illegal imports.
The Petroleum Fund thus recently held a day-long training workshop aimed at equipping LMPS members with knowledge of petroleum industry regulations and fuel price compliance at filling stations.
Mr Makhoali said the workshop was designed to give the officers a foundational understanding of the petroleum industry and related laws, allowing them to enforce these regulations more effectively.
“There is a new challenge that we are facing, particularly in the northern region, because of the ongoing LHWP II. Many companies involved in the project are using illegal methods to import fuel, resulting in significant revenue losses for the government,” Mr Makhoali said.
“We set new fuel prices every month, but some businesses do not comply. After we send inspectors to ensure compliance, many return to their original prices once the inspection is over, especially in the case of illuminating paraffin.”
The Petroleum Fund Chief Executive Officer, ‘Makananelo Thato Kome, said they had already partnered with district administrators as part of the effort to combat these issues.
“Since our offices are in Maseru, we realised the need to collaborate with government departments in the districts. We’ve initiated relationships with district administrators, informing them about the Petroleum Fund and the challenges we face in our work, especially our responsibility to set fuel prices each month.
“We expect those selling fuel to comply with the prices set by the Petroleum Fund, but our offices are not located in the districts or rural areas. That’s why we’ve decided to partner with the LMPS to help enforce the rules and regulations governing the fuel industry,” Ms Kome said.
The collaboration, she said, is meant to ensure that fuel sellers comply with the laws that protect consumers, the environment, and the nation as a whole.
“We invite the LMPS to work closely with us to ensure that businesses adhere to the legal requirements of the fuel industry.”
For his part, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sera Makharilele, stated that it was imperative for the police to be afforded such a crucial training, citing the importance of understanding industry-specific issues to identify irregularities.
“For a police officer to be considered professional, they need to be familiar with the systems they are enforcing. When dealing with issues that affect the nation, it’s critical to have a thorough understanding of them.
“Issues relating to fuel impact the Basotho nation, and anything that affects Basotho also affects us as police officers. Our responsibility is to ensure that people are not cheated by criminals and can live comfortably.
“Our role is to enforce the law, and in order to do that, we need to be aware of key details. This partnership between the Petroleum Fund and LMPS is crucial because it helps us protect Basotho livelihoods.
“As the world changes, new challenges arise, which the LMPS must address. Today’s workshop is important because it equips us to recognise abnormalities in the fuel industry.”
He also mentioned the prevalence of people selling fuel from containers at unreasonable prices.
“As the LMPS, we need to be proactive in addressing these issues and gather the necessary information from this workshop to take decisive action,” DCP Makharilele said.
