Lesotho probes alleged fees for fuel not delivered to Maseru
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sunday Express
The Lesotho government will check whether oil companies claimed storage and handling fees for fuel that was allegedly not offloaded at the Maseru depot. Energy and Mining Minister Lejone Mpotjoane promised an audit into possible public payments for services not provided, according to the Sunday Express.
The government of Lesotho will investigate allegations that oil companies charged storage and handling fees for fuel that was allegedly not offloaded at the Maseru depot, the Sunday Express reports. Energy and Mining Minister Lejone Mpotjoane announced an audit to determine whether public funds paid for services that were not provided.
The country’s petroleum policy requires companies to keep at least 1.5 million litres of fuel at the Maseru depot to ensure national security. Local transporters say some companies transport fuel directly from South Africa to customers in the districts, without passing through the depot, while claiming the fees associated with its offloading and storage.
The transporters also accuse the companies of obtaining full reimbursement for transport provided for under the regulated pricing system, then charging local operators rates below the official prices. Lesotho imports all its petroleum products from South Africa. The Petroleum Fund, established in 1955, regulates prices and revises them every month.
