Some fuel dealers have reportedly defied a government directive and continue to sell unleaded and toxic fuel in violation of the law.
The government banned the sale of unleaded petrol, effective September 1, 2024, by introducing Statutory Instrument 150 of 2024, which provides the mandatory blending of anhydrous ethanol with petrol.
However, a snap survey conducted this week by <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/toxic-fuel-floods-zim/">Business Times</a> revealed that several service stations including Puma, Trek, Zuva and Redan outlets have defied the government directive and are still selling unleaded petrol.
In contrast, Total Energies, Engen and Glow service stations have complied with the law.
In an interview with Business Times, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) CEO Edington Mazambani said that the regulatory body conducts random inspections to ensure fuel dealers’ compliance with regulations.
These unannounced checks aim to maintain standards and prevent malpractice in the fuel industry. Mazambani said:
<blockquote>
Government has not relaxed the fuel blending regulations. All fuel transported through the pipeline is blended before upliftment from either Feruka or Msasa depots.
ZERA, through fuel quality compliance checks, on the adherence to specifications as provided in fuel quality regulations.
</blockquote>
Mazambani said ZERA was intensifying its crackdown on fuel companies and was taking measures to make punishment for offenders more deterrent. He said:
<blockquote>
ZERA is sharpening enforcement and regulatory tools by initiating, developing and reviewing fuel quality standards and regulations to make punishments more deterrent.
ZERA is increasing its monitoring and enforcement capacity by establishing and adequately manning regional offices to increase the frequency of random testing and responsiveness to complaints.
ZERA is working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to enforce fuel quality regulations through site closures and arrests of operators.
</blockquote>
Mazambani also said ZERA has resolved to name and shame fuel service stations found to have contaminated fuel. He said:
<blockquote>
ZERA has always conducted fuel quality monitoring in the market with zero tolerance for fuel contamination and adulteration.
The naming of those service stations caught with contaminated fuel is meant to raise consumer awareness and encourage service stations to comply with set fuel quality standards and specifications.
The problem is not limited to Harare alone. The list published shows companies caught and prosecuted so far between January and June 2024 country wide covering Quarters 1 and 2 of the year.
Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo, Ruwa, and Marondera each had sites prosecuted in the period. Harare has more than 50% of the total fuel retail sites in the country and this also shows in the statistics of convictions.
ZERA shall be publishing the lists of convicted retail sites countrywide at the end of Quarter 3 in September 2024 upon finalisation of their cases.
</blockquote>
Last month, ZERA took decisive action against non-compliant fuel stations. The authority convicted and fined 12 stations for selling contaminated fuel, while also revoking the operating license of one establishment.
ZERA has expressed grave concern over the alarming increase in toxic or contaminated fuel infiltrating the Zimbabwean market, describing the current levels as unprecedented.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Some fuel dealers in Zimbabwe are still selling toxic fuel, even though the government banned unleaded petrol and requires fuel to be blended with ethanol since September 2024. Some stations are following the law, but others are not. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority is cracking down on non-compliant stations and taking measures to punish offenders. They are also naming and shaming stations found to have contaminated fuel. The problem is not just in Harare, but also in other cities. The authority has already fined some stations and revoked the license of one. They are concerned about the high levels of toxic fuel in the market.

Toxic Fuel Floods Zimbabwe As Fuel Firms Defy Government

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says it has taken action against six fuel service stations in Bulawayo that were selling contaminated fuel and blended fuel claiming it is unleaded.
ZERA chief executive officer, Eddington Mazambani, on Tuesday told the<a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/contaminated-fuel-six-filling-stations-exposed/"> Chronicle</a> that the errant fuel dealers have been dragged to court and fined different amounts.
The six companies are Meizon Amakhosi, Petromoc Exor, Clean Liquids, Clean Easy, Heaven S/St, and Oil Twenty 20.
Meizon Amakhosi, Bulawayo, was fined US$$300 for selling contaminated diesel and Petromoc Exor, which was charged for selling blended fuel as unblended and was fined US$300.
Clean Liquids has also been charged for selling contaminated diesel and fined US$300, the same as Clean Easy which was fined US$400.
Heaven S/St, Bulawayo was fined US$150 for selling contaminated diesel, while Oil Twenty 20 was fined US$400 for selling contaminated fuel. Said Mazambani:
<blockquote>
The location and allocation of land for service stations are governed by the local authorities concerned.
Service stations are required to meet EMA and Fire Departments’ safe storage of fuel requirements.
Ultimately, service stations need a ZERA license to operate and before they are given the license, they must demonstrate compliance with the following key standards or codes for the petroleum industry.
</blockquote>
He said ZERA does not only enforce standards but also conducts awareness training sessions with stakeholders on the standards and best practices to facilitate compliance.
In November 2023, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development adopted the revised ZWS753:2020 (Unleaded Petrol) standard, as the standard for unleaded petrol.
All fuel importers were advised that in five months they would be expected to import fuel that meets or exceeds specifications laid out in the revised standard.
In a general notice number 1884 0f 2023, ZERA stated that the revised standard ZWS 753:2020 allows for the importation of cleaner and superior unleaded petrol that is compatible with modern and improved vehicle technologies and eliminates vapour lock problems previously encountered at service stations.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Six Filling Stations Fined For Selling Contaminated Fuel

A Bulawayo fuel service station, Meizon Petroleum, was on Thursday arraigned before Magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa for selling contaminated diesel.
The fuel retailer, represented by Rangarirai Levison, pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined US$300 by the magistrate.
The court heard that on 19 September 2022, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) inspectors visited the Meizon Petroleum fuel station to verify whether its fuel met set standards.
They extracted a sample from the diesel pump and tested it in the laboratory with the results revealing that the fuel was contaminated. The lawyer, Levison, said:
<blockquote>
We did not know that we sold contaminated diesel fuel. The company is small, it does not have any of the machines for testing fuel before purchasing it and in Zimbabwe, there are no retailers selling these testing machines.
</blockquote>
In May 2022, motorists alleged that a fuel service station at Lupane centre was allegedly selling petrol contaminated with water.
ZERA chief executive Addington Mazambane urged motorists to quickly report all cases of suspected fuel contamination so that the authorities can investigate and institute corrective measures.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZERA Latest News

Latest Jobs