Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) Executive Director, Juba Sakala, says the Energy Regulations Board (ERB) should stop adjusting upwards the prices of Liquified Petroleum Gas, which he said is the only sustainable means of energy for cooking, amid increasing load-shading.
Retailers in gas have hiked the prices of the commodity, selling between K250 to K300 for 6Kgs, citing upwards adjustment of the commodity prices by the ERB during the May 2024 Fuel Price reviews.
But Mr. Sakala says ERB should be looking at how to make Liquified Petroleum Gas accessible by reducing the prices, to lessen dependence on charcoal for cooking.
“The current prices of Liquified Petroleum Gas are so high that they are only accessible to the high income earners, which should not be the case,” said Mr. Sakala in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today.
He said Liquified Petroleum Gas has become a luxury, pushing consumers to resort to charcoal for cooking, further broadening the threats to the environment.
By Eva Hatontola
