The Sunday Mail
Most filling stations countrywide have begun selling ethanol-blended fuel (E15) in keeping with a Government directive to increase the blending level from 10 percent (E10).
In recent weeks, there have been mixed reactions to the new product with some vehicle assemblers and distributors arguing the fuel was not compatible with their cars. Some firms and industries were also reported to have been stockpiling unleaded fuel to avoid using E15 for as long as possible.
Government has, however, stuck to its position and the introduction of E15 was only delayed due to limited ethanol stocks.
Compliance tests by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) in different parts of the country show that most retailers are selling the blended fuel, and motorists now keenly await the blend’s impact on fuel prices.
Blends are significantly cheaper than unleaded products, and Government hopes to slash the fuel import bill through the mandatory interventions.
Zera chief executive officer Engineer Gloria Magombo said her institution was satisfied with compliance after the latest round of assessments.
She said Zera was yet to receive complaints regarding any negative effects of E15, adding that new research would focus on the compatibility of ethanol-blended fuel with various vehicle types.
“Yes, mandatory blending of E15 is now being implemented. Zera has already started carrying out E15 compliance tests at retail sites around the country and the tests carried out so far show 100 percent compliance to E15 blend,” she said.
“Zera continues to carry out assessments. So far, no adverse effects on the vehicles currently being used in Zimbabwe have been reported.”
Government recently increased the mandatory blending level of anhydrous ethanol with unleaded petrol from 10 percent to 15 percent. The blending level was scheduled to go up to 20 percent last February but ethanol supply undid that goal.
In 2013, Nissan Zimbabwe expressed concern over blending fuel beyond 10 percent. In a letter to Zera, the company said its vehicles were designed to only take a maximum 10 percent of ethanol-blended fuel. It said if that percentage was to be exceeded, Nissan products would have fuel injection components changed and various rubber components installed into the fuel systems to cater for a higher blend.
Green Fuel, the country’s largest ethanol producer, is facilitating any necessary adjustments to fuel injection systems to ensure compatibility as Zimbabwe follows the example of major producers and consumers — the United States and Brazil — in using blends. Research shows that introducing E15 will cut the country’s fuel import bill, which currently stands at US$50 million monthly, by 20 percent.
Zimbabwe has saved about US$4 million each month since the introduction of mandatory blending.
