Out of 155 fuel samples collected from retail sites across Zimbabwe, 13 were found to be contaminated or adulterated, failing to meet the required quality standards.
In response, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has taken action against those responsible for selling substandard fuel during the first half of 2024.
Operators of the non-compliant sites have been reported to law enforcement for distributing inferior products, as part of ZERA’s efforts to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of Zimbabwe’s fuel supply.
Among the violations, four samples were contaminated with water, and nine were suspected of being adulterated, which involves mixing foreign substances like kerosene or solvents into fuel—a serious breach of quality standards.
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Fuel adulteration is a global issue where dishonest practices are used to deceive consumers into buying substandard products, often for profit at the expense of safety and performance.
“We are committed to safeguarding consumers from substandard fuel, and any site compromising on quality will face legal consequences,” ZERA stated in its half-year report.