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Uproar as Botswana Oil takes over fuel imports

Filling station fuel pump PIC: DRIVING.ORG
Filling station fuel pump PIC: DRIVING.ORG

Botswana Oil (BOL) is set to enjoy the exclusive right to import 90% of the country’s fuel supplies from April 1 next year, a move that has outraged retailers who say the monopoly will effectively kill the industry.

BOL, the state oil company, has been angling for a dedicated quota for years, under which it would exclusively import most of the 1.2 billion litres of fuel consumed in the country every year, and resell this to retailers such as Engen, Total, Puma, Caltex and the wholesalers.

BOL argues that an exclusive import quota will help it promote effective citizen empowerment in an industry dominated by large, foreign multinationals. In addition, BOL says the import quota would ensure security and stability of supply, while anchoring the businesses cases of other developments such as the long-planned Coal to Liquids project.

Editor's Comment
Mob justice isn't just

A young man suspected of breaking into a car was seized by residents, severely assaulted, and died in the hospital within an hour. We unreservedly condemn this mob justice. It is not a solution to crime, but a criminal offence that turns citizens into murderers.Residents are understandably angry about theft. The person who raised the alarm at 4am acted lawfully, and the neighbours who rushed to help showed community spirit. But what followed was...

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