Zimbabwe bans unleaded petrol sale, decrees ethanol blending

HARARE – The government has announced a ban in the sale of unleaded petrol through a new Statutory Instrument which compels the blending of fuel with ethanol.

In Statutory Instrument 150 of 2024, an amendment to the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2024 (No. 6), energy and power development ministry said the controversial ban of unleaded petrol was done following consultations with the energy regulator, ZERA.

The new S.I repealed Section 3 of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013 and replaced with new 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,” said the energy minister in a Government Gazette released last week.

“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 of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (No. 6). Section 3 of the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, published in Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013, is repealed and substituted by the following— these regulations shall apply to all unleaded petrol imported into Zimbabwe.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,” the minister said.

The new regulations mean Zimbabweans will no longer be able to buy unleaded fuel and that all petrol sold in the country must be blended with ethanol before sale.

Government hopes the blending of ethanol with unleaded petrol will reduce the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and promote the use of renewable energy sources.