eBusiness Weekly
Golden Sibanda
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, says the industry regulator has intensified efforts to curtail mischief by dealers amid growing complaints by motorists over low mileage being attained due to suspected fuel quality issues.
The US Energy Department says ethanol contains one-third less energy than unleaded petrol, as such; vehicles typically go 3 to 4 percent fewer miles per gallon on E10 and 4 to 5 percent fewer miles on E15 than 100 percent gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced alcohol fuel source of energy made from plant material, such as corn, sugar cane, or grasses. Using ethanol can reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Ethanol fuel use in the US, the world’s biggest consumer of fuels, has increased dramatically from about 1,7 billion gallons in 2001 to about 14,4 billion in 2016. The US says due to ethanol’s lower energy content, flex fuel vehicles operating on E85 get roughly 15 percent to 27 percent fewer miles per gallon (3,78 litres) than when operating on regular gasoline, depending on the ethanol content.
This may partly explain Zimbabwean motorists’ claims that they are now travelling shorter distances for the same amount of ethanol blended fuel they used in the past, after the blending threshold was raised in June amid acute shortages, and many suspect dealers might be exceeding authorised blending levels. Currently, Zimbabwe’s gazetted ethanol blending threshold stands at 20 percent, which the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA), says has helped maintain lower fuel prices, mostly imported, lower than if the fuel was sold unleaded.
But Minister Chasi said this week that he was not aware of any fuel dealers that were over blending fuel, but stressed that the highest standards in blending of petrol in Zimbabwe were being strictly adhered to across the country.
“The highest standards (in fuel blending) are adhered to in arriving at the levels of blended fuel; not quite sure about the (allegations of) over-blending.
“We have accelerated measures by ZERA to stem any misconduct and have taken deterrent measures against some. We are also pursuing legal action against some operators for certain types of misconduct,” the energy minister revealed.
Responding to concern over the fuel quality amid claims of decreasing mileage, ZERA said 90 percent of fuel imported into Zimbabwe comes through pipeline from Beira to Feruka, Msasa and Mabvuku and blended at 20 percent ratio.
Fuel in Zimbabwe is either blended at the main distribution depots by the National Oil and Infrastructure Company or at respective dealers’ locations, some not supervised.
Zimbabwe increased the fuel blending threshold, the second time in 2019, from 10 percent to the now prevailing 20 percent with expectation high that this would help reduce the country’s huge fuel import bill amid a dollar crunch.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor said Zimbabwe, which faces fuel shortages, saw fuel consumption go down by 35 million litres in March to 165 million following a 150 price increase in January.
“In the market ZERA consistently conducts routine quality inspection at all fuel service stations across the country and prosecutes offending operators.
“From January 2019 to August 2019, the average compliance rate to fuel quality standards was 99,2 percent across the country with only one site being prosecuted for having contaminated fuel,” ZERA said.
The energy regulator said that fuel blending thresholds were consistent across the whole country, adding “blending petrol with ethanol has helped to hold down the rate of increase of petrol price”.
State owned National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) said recently the country is expected to save about $64 million annually from blending petrol at a 20 percent.
Due to increasing global environmental concerns, air pollution has generated much importance in the environmental friendly alternative fuels. For internal combustion engines, alternative fuels are also becoming an unavoidable choice due to diminishing petroleum reserves and increasing air pollution.
