adminAs we reported yesterday, the pump price of unleaded fuel went up to between $1,45 and $1,50 a litre, from between $1,42 and $1,44, while that of diesel shot to $1,35 from $1,32 per litre.
The price of E10 also went up from $1,36 to $1,41 but still remains the cheapest fuel on the local market.
In view of the fact that the blended E10 still remains the cheapest fuel in Zimbabwe and because it is being produced locally, the fuel price increases should spur on
more Zimbabwean motorists to switch over to the greener fuel.
But that is assuming all things were equal and market forces were at play. Our situation appears to be complex as there appears to be underhand forces bent on undermining the Government-approved project of producing ethanol at Chisumbanje in the Lowveld to blend with imported petrol.
By buying locally blended petrol, motorists will not only be buying cheaper and cleaner fuel, but will also be supporting local industry. Zimbabwe recently joined other progressive nations which are moving towards cleaner sources of energy through the $600 million Chisumbanje ethanol plant.
The plant, built using a Brazilian model and is a joint venture between the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda) and Macdom, which formed Green Fuel, is however in danger of crumbling, throwing more than 6 000 workers back onto the streets if their end product, E10, is not fully supported locally.
The world over, more countries are turning to cleaner sources of energy such as biofuels as they try to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change on the planet. But in Zimbabwe, there appears to be a reluctance to embrace this fuel.
Over the past few weeks, the Chisumbanje ethanol project was said to be sitting on a stockpile of 10 million litres of ethanol and had suspended production after running out of storage space.
This sounds unbelievable for a country like Zimbabwe which does not produce its own fuel and relies on imports from largely the Middle East. Only a few years ago, we were faced with crippling shortages of fuel which almost brought our economy to its knees and one would have assumed that the coming on board of the Chisumbanje ethanol project would be welcomed with open hands.
Our support for locally blended fuel is informed by the fact that blending petrol with ethanol will help the country save $200 000 daily and $72 million per year. That is no small change for a small country like Zimbabwe which could channel that money towards other needy sectors.
But it would appear the Ministry of Energy and Power Development is not doing enough to ensure that this project gets the support it deserves. There have been calls for mandatory blending of all petrol with ethanol as a way of promoting the project, but these seem to be falling on deaf ears.
It would appear the project is falling victim to the politics of the inclusive Government and it would be a sad day for Zimbabwe if this is allowed to continue and stall such developmental projects aimed at benefiting everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
We therefore urge our leaders not to politicise national projects meant to benefit the country, but to work together in putting Zimbabwe first.
Online Reporter