Maseru, Lesotho — The Petroleum Fund has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the national fuel supply chain through enhanced collaboration with law enforcement agencies, following a strategic induction session aimed at bolstering the fight against fuel smuggling and market manipulation.

Speaking on the initiative, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Fund, Advocate Makananelo Kome, highlighted that the programme builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and reinforces the collaborative strategy adopted in March 2025. The strategy targets persistent challenges within the petroleum sector, including fuel smuggling, illegal importation, and price manipulation.

“This initiative represents a critical step in strengthening our collective response to illicit fuel activities and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the petroleum sector,” said Advocate Kome.

She reaffirmed the Petroleum Fund’s full support and commitment to the successful implementation of the Anti-Fuel Smuggling Initiative, emphasising the importance of coordinated enforcement, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder collaboration in protecting the integrity and sustainability of the national fuel supply chain.

During the induction session, officials from the Petroleum Fund highlighted that rising fuel smuggling poses a direct threat to economic stability, the security of supply, and the integrity of the petroleum industry. They stressed the urgency of strengthened law enforcement and coordinated interventions through shared intelligence, resources, and active public participation. The officials further underscored that the Petroleum Fund executes its mandate within a clear statutory framework that safeguards compliance, protects the regulated petroleum sector, and ensures the sustainable and efficient supply of petroleum products across the country.

Concluding the induction session, Senior Superintendent Khutlang, speaking on behalf of the Anti-Smuggling Team and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service, reaffirmed the team’s unwavering commitment and dedication to the assignment. He emphasised that the initiative would continue to be executed with professionalism, vigilance, and coordinated operational support, while underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to combat fuel smuggling and protect the country’s economic and regulatory interests.