HARARE – A new era of fuel in Zimbabwe begins next week, as the government implements mandatory ethanol blending in all unleaded petrol, effectively ending the availability of pure unleaded fuel.
This move, announced yesterday through Statutory Instrument (SI) 150 of 2024, marks a significant shift in the country’s energy landscape, raising both hopes and concerns.
The new regulations, officially titled the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (No. 6), were published in the Government Gazette and will come into effect seven days after publication.
They mandate that all unleaded petrol imported into Zimbabwe must be blended with anhydrous ethanol, a move driven by the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, after consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
This policy, according to the government, is a crucial step in promoting renewable energy sources and reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“These regulations shall apply to all unleaded petrol imported into Zimbabwe,” the statutory instrument reads, making it clear that the move is not a suggestion, but a firm directive.
However, the shift to ethanol-blended fuel has sparked anxiety among motorists, who have previously raised concerns about potential negative impacts on their vehicles.
Drivers have reported issues such as increased wear and tear, particularly in older car models not designed for ethanol blends, as well as reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs due to ethanol’s corrosive properties.
“I’m worried about the impact on my car. I’ve heard stories about ethanol damaging engines, and I don’t want to have to spend a fortune on repairs,” said one Harare resident, who owns a 10-year-old vehicle.
Adding to the uncertainty, some motorists and companies had stocked up on unleaded fuel coupons, purchased at higher prices than those for ethanol-blended fuel. It remains unclear whether the government will offer any compensation for their potential losses as the new regulations take effect.
The government, however, maintains that the move is necessary to ensure energy security and reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. They argue that ethanol blending will not only reduce emissions but also create new economic opportunities in the agricultural sector, where ethanol is produced from sugarcane.
“This is a critical step towards a more sustainable energy future for Zimbabwe. We are confident that the benefits of ethanol blending will outweigh any short-term challenges,” said a Ministry of Energy and Power Development official.
The details of the new regulations are outlined in SI 150 of 2024, which repeals and replaces Section 3 of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013.
SI 17 of 2013 stated that no procurement licensee or wholesale licensee shall sell unleaded petrol, unless the unleaded petrol has been blended with a minimum of five per centum (5%) locally produced anhydrous ethanol, being ethanol blend grade E5, which is produced by a licensed ethanol blender”.
The new regulations also specify that no person other than licensed ethanol blenders could blend anhydrous ethanol with unleaded petrol; that no licensed ethanol blender could purchase anhydrous ethanol for blending purposes except from a licensed ethanol producer; no licensed ethanol blender could blend anhydrous ethanol with unleaded petrol except at a facility specified in the blender’s licence; as well as that every licensed ethanol producer would, for every batch of anhydrous ethanol supplied to a licensed ethanol blender, furnish to the blender, a quality assurance certificate certifying that the anhydrous ethanol complies with the parameters that are specified in Part 1 of the Schedule.
As the deadline approaches, consumers and fuel suppliers will need to adapt to the new regulations, which could spark further debate about the long-term impact of ethanol blending on vehicle performance and fuel costs in Zimbabwe.
