Botswana Oil makes its weight felt
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | 7920 Views |
To the brim: Botswana Oil is due to take control of the fuel market from next April
The policymakers behind the recent statutory notice giving Botswana Oil (BOL) the exclusive right to import 90% of the country’s fuel, were evidently not interested in half-measures, or half-stepping.
From April 1 next year under the 90% “import quota,” BOL will exclusively import nearly all of the 1.2 billion litres of fuel consumed in the country annually, and resell this to retailers such as Engen, Total, Puma, Caltex and the wholesalers.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...