The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has instructed fuel retailers to comply with the new regulations under Statutory Instrument 150 of 2024, which requires that all petrol sold in Zimbabwe be blended with ethanol before being sold to consumers.
This new regulation, which was introduced on August 30, 2024, mandates that all petrol, previously marketed as “unleaded” at some service stations, must now be blended with a specified amount of ethanol. ZERA issued a reminder on Tuesday, November 26, emphasizing that selling any petroleum product under a false designation is illegal.
Since all petrol imported into Zimbabwe is unleaded, the blending requirement applies to all imported fuel. Leaded petrol was phased out in 2006, and since 2011, blending with ethanol has been a compulsory practice as part of efforts to promote biofuels.
ZERA warned that non-compliance with the law would result in legal action. The authority has worked to close a loophole that allowed fuel stations to avoid blending by labeling unblended petrol as “unleaded.” The revised regulations now address this issue more effectively, making it clear that all petrol sold in the country must be blended with ethanol.
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