The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has officially released the criteria for fuel and gas companies seeking legal authorisation to operate in 2026. The regulator’s latest public notice details the specific financial and operational requirements for obtaining procurement, wholesale, retail, and production licences for the upcoming year.
With current operating licences set to expire on 31 December 2025, ZERA has urged all petroleum sector operators to begin the renewal process immediately. A key warning from the authority is that merely paying the required fee does not secure a licence.
Key Requirements For A Fuel Import Licence
To apply for a critical fuel import licence for 2026, companies must meet two primary conditions. First, they must pay a licence fee of US$15,000 (approximately R285,000), which is exclusive of VAT. Second, and crucially, they must provide documented evidence of significant market participation.
According to ZERA, applicants must submit proof of one of the following:
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Evidence of importing a minimum of 10 million litres of petrol and diesel combined into the market in 2025, or in any year between 2022 and 2024.
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OR evidence of ownership, through title deeds, of at least three retail service stations.
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OR evidence of management, through leasing agreements, of at least three retail sites in the applicant’s name.
The notice is unequivocal on the process:
“Payment of license fees into the ZERA account without submitting adequate application documents does not warrant the issuance of license.”
Complete 2026 Licence Fee Schedule
Alongside the fuel import licence, ZERA has published the full fee structure for all other petroleum and LPG-related licences for the 2026 operating year. The costs vary significantly based on the licence category and location.
| Licence Category | Fee (US$, VAT Exclusive) | Approx. Rand Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Import Licence | 15,000 | R285,000 |
| Petroleum Wholesale Licence | 9,200 | R174,800 |
| Petroleum Retail Licence (Urban) | 400 | R7,600 |
| Petroleum Retail Licence (Rural) | 50 | R950 |
| LPG Wholesale Licence | 8,000 | R152,000 |
| LPG Retail Licence | 100 | R1,900 |
| LPG Retail (on existing fuel site) | Free | Free |
| Ethanol Production Licence | 10,000 | R190,000 |
| Blending Production Licence | 2,500 | R47,500 |
Mandatory Digital Application Process
ZERA has mandated a strict digital-only submission process for all 2026 licence applications. The authority will not accept applications sent through any other channel.
Key application rules include:
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All applications must be submitted via email only to [email protected].
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Applications sent to any other email address will not be accepted.
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All documents must be in PDF format only and each must be below 10MB in size.
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Every supporting document must be a certified copy.
The notice concludes with a firm legal directive, reiterating the consequences of non-compliance. It cites Section 29 of the Petroleum Act, which makes it illegal to handle petroleum products without a valid ZERA licence.
ZERA’s final warning to the industry states:
“All operators are reminded that according to section 29 of the Petroleum Act, it is illegal to procure, sell or produce any petroleum product without a license issued by the Authority and the necessary steps will be taken on those that do not comply.”
Application forms and detailed requirement checklists are available for download on the official ZERA website at www.zera.co.zw.
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The post Full List Of ZERA’s 2026 Petroleum And LPG Licence Fees Released appeared first on iHarare News.
