adminHarare Bureau
THE government will not reverse the mandatory blending of petrol with ethanol as the measure was taken to reduce the fuel importation bill, preserve the environment, create jobs and to economically empower local people, a Cabinet minister has said.Petrol blending was officially introduced in November last year. Some motorists have accused the government of rushing the regulations for mandatory blending.
Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamayi Mavhaire said the government acted in the interest of the public when it came up with mandatory blending of petrol.
He was responding to an application by a Harare resident, Thabani Mpofu, who is suing the minister, the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority and Green Fuels over petrol blending.
Mpofu filed a constitutional application challenging Green Fuels’ “monopoly and blending ratios” to levels beyond E10 last month. He contends that compulsory blending effectively bans unleaded fuel in the country.
He further argued that Green Fuels’ monopoly and blending ratios do not guarantee fair competition and are not in the interest of the motorists.
Mpofu is of the view that mandatory blending infringes on people’s rights as enshrined in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
But Minister Mavhaire argues that mandatory blending was not unprecedented in the history of Zimbabwe. He says from the 1970s to early 90s, there had been mandatory blending.
“The reason why the use of blending petrol was abandoned has nothing to do with the reasons complained of by Mpofu, but on drought that made ethanol unavailable in large enough volumes,” he said.
He disputes the mandatory blending infringed on Mpofu’s “freedom of choice”.
“There is no freedom of choice in the constitution and Mpofu makes sad allegations without supporting evidence…,” argues the minister.
“I dispute that Mpofu has a constitutional right to freedom of choice over fuel.”
He further argues that allegations by Mpofu that the regulations making petrol blending mandatory were made at the “stroke of a pen” were unfounded because they were promulgated after extensive consultations and research in terms of the enabling Act.
ZERA, which is being represented by Ralph Tsivama, also filed its opposing papers in the matter. It argues that mandatory blending was in the interest of the nation and promotes usage of bio-fuels that are environmentally friendly. “It was therefore imperative that government becomes a part of the ethanol project for national benefit,” argues ZERA.
According to a research done by Engineer Clement Shonhiwa from the University of Zimbabwe’s faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department, petrol blends of between E5 and E10 may be used in a vehicle without any adjustment to the vehicle. Such blends were in use in various countries across the globe and are an acceptable vehicle propellant.
Online Reporter