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Harare - The Zimbabwean government has increased the mandatory blending of renewable clean-burning fuel with unleaded petrol from 5% (E5) to 10% (E10) with effect from October 24 2013.
According to a press statement released on Wednesday by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera), fuel importers, wholesalers and retailers are expected to comply with the new statutory instrument on blending.
Wholesalers and retailers have been given up to 10 days to clear their current stock, after which all licensees in the petroleum sector will be expected to comply with legal provisions.
The price of ethanol is currently set at US$0.95 per litre.
Zera said the price of ethanol will be reviewed in due course, adding that ethanol blending contributes towards the country's security.
“It also reduces the fuel import bill, creates employment and has potential for power generation,” said Zera, adding that the country is set to save about $4m every month in imports through mandatory blending.
Zera’s position on ethanol comes at a time when ethanol from Zimbabwe’s Green Fuel is in huge demand from other countries, including South Africa.
At the weekend The Herald reported that some Southern African Development Community countries are scrambling for the product and have approached Green Fuel with a view to sealing deals.
Green Fuel general manager Graham Smith reportedly said the company had been approached by Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa.
Smith said South Africa, which introduced mandatory blending, was "a key market hungry for energy".
Green Fuel is running with capacity to produce 120 million litres of ethanol a year.
“In the next seven years we would be producing 500 million litres of ethanol per year,” said Smith.
- Fin24
According to a press statement released on Wednesday by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera), fuel importers, wholesalers and retailers are expected to comply with the new statutory instrument on blending.
Wholesalers and retailers have been given up to 10 days to clear their current stock, after which all licensees in the petroleum sector will be expected to comply with legal provisions.
The price of ethanol is currently set at US$0.95 per litre.
Zera said the price of ethanol will be reviewed in due course, adding that ethanol blending contributes towards the country's security.
“It also reduces the fuel import bill, creates employment and has potential for power generation,” said Zera, adding that the country is set to save about $4m every month in imports through mandatory blending.
Zera’s position on ethanol comes at a time when ethanol from Zimbabwe’s Green Fuel is in huge demand from other countries, including South Africa.
At the weekend The Herald reported that some Southern African Development Community countries are scrambling for the product and have approached Green Fuel with a view to sealing deals.
Green Fuel general manager Graham Smith reportedly said the company had been approached by Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa.
Smith said South Africa, which introduced mandatory blending, was "a key market hungry for energy".
Green Fuel is running with capacity to produce 120 million litres of ethanol a year.
“In the next seven years we would be producing 500 million litres of ethanol per year,” said Smith.
- Fin24
