Zimbabwe Government Bans Sale of Unleaded Petrol, Mandates Ethanol Blending

Zimbabwe Government Bans Sale of Unleaded Petrol, Mandates Ethanol Blending

In a significant policy shift, the Zimbabwean government has announced the ban on the sale of unleaded petrol, enforcing a new regulation that mandates the blending of the fuel with ethanol.

This measure, which will take effect next week, marks a critical step in the country’s energy strategy, aimed at promoting the use of biofuels.

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New Regulations Under the Petroleum Act

The ban was formalized in the latest amendment to the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2024 (No. 6).

In the amendment, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, following consultations with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), exercised the powers granted under section 57(1) of the Petroleum Act [Chapter 13:22] to enact these changes.

According to the amendment, Section 3 of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013, has been repealed and replaced with the following provisions:

“These regulations shall apply to all unleaded petrol imported into Zimbabwe. Subsection (1) shall come into operation seven days from the date of publication of these regulations.”

This effectively means that all unleaded petrol entering the country must now be blended with anhydrous ethanol before being sold to the public.

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Implementation Begins Next Week

The implementation of this new regulation is set to begin next week, giving fuel suppliers and retailers a short window to comply with the new requirements.

The blending of ethanol with unleaded petrol is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and promote the use of renewable energy sources.

Here is the full statement in it’s entirety;

“Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (No. 6)

IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Energy and Power Development, after consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has, in terms of section 57

(1) of the Petroleum Act [Chapter 13:22], made the following regulations:-1.

These regulations may be cited as the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending ofAnhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations , 2024 (No. 6).

2. Section 3 of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending ofAnhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013, is repealed and substituted by the following—”

3. (1) These regulations shall apply to all unleaded petrol imported into Zimbabwe.

(2) Subsection (1) shall come into operation seven days from the date of publication of these regulations.”

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