By
Costa
Nkomo
The
ban,
effective
from
September
6,
2024,
was
announced
through
Statutory
Instrument
150/2024.
This
move
is
aimed
at
strengthening
the
country’s
biofuels
policy
and
encouraging
the
use
of
locally
produced
ethanol.
Zimbabwe
Energy
Regulatory
Authority
(ZERA)
Chief
Executive
Officer
Eddington
Mazambani
explained
that
the
decision
addresses
the
declining
uptake
of
ethanol
blending,
which
had
been
compromised
by
loopholes
in
existing
regulations.
“Since
90
percent
of
our
fuel
is
supplied
through
the
pipeline,
blending
ethanol
with
unleaded
petrol
could
result
in
significant
forex
savings
and
contribute
to
greening
our
economy.
Ethanol
production
also
plays
a
role
in
carbon
capture
within
the
country,”
Mazambani
told
CITE.
Mazambani
noted
that
private
players,
aside
from
NOIC,
had
exploited
legal
loopholes
to
import
unleaded
petrol
by
road,
bypassing
the
pipeline
and
undermining
the
ethanol
blending
initiative.
“People
began
importing
petrol
by
road
and
blending
it
independently,
leading
to
a
significant
drop
in
the
demand
for
ethanol.
We
have
now
tightened
the
regulations
to
ensure
full
adoption
of
the
biofuels
policy.”
The
new
regulations,
detailed
in
the
Petroleum
(Mandatory
Blending
of
Anhydrous
Ethanol
with
Unleaded
Petrol)
(Amendment)
Regulations,
2024
(No.
6),
effectively
repeal
and
replace
Section
3
of
the
previous
regulations.
These
changes,
mandating
the
blending
of
imported
unleaded
petrol
with
ethanol,
will
take
effect
seven
days
after
their
publication.
The
government
argues
that
the
ban
will
reduce
reliance
on
imported
fuel
by
promoting
ethanol
blending,
thereby
decreasing
the
need
for
foreign
currency
to
import
unleaded
petrol.
Additionally,
the
policy
supports
environmental
sustainability,
as
ethanol
production
is
considered
a
more
environmentally
friendly
option
compared
to
fossil
fuels,
helping
to
reduce
greenhouse
gas
emissions.