Ayesha Nyanzunda
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has prosecuted 13 fuel retail sites in the past six months for failing to meet fuel quality standards.
According to ZERA’s 2024 half-year report, these sites were found to have issues with fuel contamination and adulteration.
The report highlighted that ZERA conducted quality checks on 150 fuel samples from retail sites across the country. Of these, four samples were found to be contaminated with water, while nine were suspected of being adulterated.
Fuel adulteration, which typically involves mixing foreign substances such as kerosene with fuel, is a widespread issue. This practice deceives consumers into purchasing substandard fuel, allowing unscrupulous retailers to maximize profits at the expense of fuel quality.
In addition to addressing fuel quality issues, ZERA noted a rise in containerized fuel retailers, particularly in rural and remote areas. To manage this growth, the authority has approved guidelines for containerized filling stations, which will facilitate the establishment of these fuel retail facilities in underserved areas.
ZERA is also collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing to develop a framework or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for regulating the construction of fuel retail sites in local authority areas. This initiative comes in response to the increasing number of fuel stations, especially in urban areas.
“The framework will help streamline the licensing process for newly built retail sites and address public concerns regarding the spacing of fuel retail sites in urban areas,” the report explained.