adminThe liberalisation of the fuel industry at the turn of the century transformed the sector that has seen newcomers bringing in innovations that have benefited consumers.
According to the promoters of the high-octane fuel, besides being friendly to the environment, E85 offers increased vehicle power and performance to motorists.
Other than slightly lower mileage, motorists will see little difference when using E85 versus the conventional fuel which is coming in at a much reduced cost of US$1,10 per litre.
E85 has about 27 percent less energy per litre than ordinary petrol, but there is more to gain from its other attributes, especially considering that we have a huge fuel import bill.
The gradual introduction of blended fuel in this country, which began with the mandatory 5 percent blending policy a few months ago, should translate into meaningful savings for the economy if more and more people adapt to the blended fuel.
As a country we are heavily endowed with the raw material for ethanol from the vast sugar cane estates in the Lowveld and the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant is ideally positioned for maximum use of the resource.
While it is appreciated that operations of the plant have not been as smooth as intended, we still believe that not all is lost and the full utilisation of the facility will definitely work in favour of the country.
There is more to benefit from the use of blended fuel in the long run as focus will now be shifted towards effective utilisation of what we already have.
We would at this point, however, like to register our disappointment over the roll-out programme of the E85 project as we would have thought that by now the nation would be in the picture of the latest innovation.
Just like the E10 Green Fuel episode where the oil industry seemed to resist the introduction of the product, we feel there is more that the company could do to prepare the market for the new offering.
We hear that the use of the E85 fuel is subject to the installation of conversion kits on the vehicles, making them flexible fuel vehicles that can also use unleaded fuel.
It appears there is very little information about the conversion of vehicles.
It is imperative that Green Fuels should embark on a massive mobilisation drive to create awareness of the new kid on the block so that motorists, who have a right to know, are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this product.
It would appear that the same company is underestimating the potential of the new product as evidenced by the operation of only one pump in the northern suburbs of Harare that is supposed to service the entire city, if not the whole country.
How can interested motorists get the requisite kits and at what cost?
Are there other centres around the country offering the same facility?
Zera, as the regulating body, should have asked these questions when they evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of this new product.
Naturally as huge savings are likely to be obtained from using the blended fuel, more information should be readily available for all interested parties.
It is incumbent upon the regulatory authorities to make sure that all the loopholes are plugged before motorists start crying foul.
There is added enthusiasm that this could be a godsend for our hardened motorists who have been subjected to frequent fuel price hikes in response to global trends.
This could be the ideal substitute.
It is also incumbent upon the oil industry in general to be receptive to the introduction of this cheaper fuel alternative and open up their facilities to accommodate E85. Let us make this a national project and ensure that the benefits are there for all to enjoy.
Online Reporter