Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says the country’s petroleum sector has recorded significant growth, as evidenced by increased import volumes of key fuel products between 2020 and 2024.
According to ZERA’s 2024 Annual Report, diesel importation, often used as a barometer of economic performance has shown consistent growth over the four-year period.
For instance, diesel imports surged to 1.1 billion litres in 2024 up from 736 447 091 litres in 2020 while petrol imports closed 2024 at 568 757 511 litres.
Jet A1 fuel, used in aviation, recorded a sharp increase from 21 880 815 in 2020 to 95 118 044 in 2024, reflecting improved performance in the aviation industry.
“On the other hand, paraffin imports have remained subdued due to much lower usage because of the shift to LPG for cooking at domestic level,” reads part of the report.
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) imports have grown by an average of five percent over the years reaching 77.44 million kilogrammes in 2024 up from 66.11 million kilogrammes in 2020.
This represents a 17.14 percent growth over the period.
“This trend is expected to continue as more domestic customers embrace LPG as a clean fuel,” ZERA said.
Zera noted that the overall trend indicates a steady increase in the total number of licensed petroleum operators over the years, reaching 1083 in 2024 from 299 in 2012.
The Retail category consistently represents the largest segment, showing robust growth from 229 in 2012 to 996 in 2024.
The consistent growth, particularly in the retail segment, reflects a thriving industry, Zera noted.
Meanwhile, ZERA expressed concern over the continued smuggling of 48kg LPG cylinders, which remain widely accessible to illegal vendors and are often implicated in fires and explosions at unlicensed selling points.
In a bid to curb the trend, ZERA stepped up its enforcement activities and destroyed 206 smuggled cylinders recovered from illegal operators during the review period.
“ZERA is engaging South African owners of smuggled cylinders, urging them to improve control of the circulation of their cylinders so that they are not smuggled out and end up in the hands of illegal LPG dealers,” the authority said.
