News / National
Zimbabwe faces fuel crisis
17 Jan 2014 at 05:18hrs | Views
Green Fuel's ethanol stocks are thinning, which might lead Zimbabwe to experience disruptions in the supply of fuel.
This comes amid rising concern about the judiciousness of the August 2013 policy or directive, which has precipitated a constitutional challenge about the rationality of the move and other issues including compatibility of the fuel to certain cars.
While Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has tried to downplay the potential crisis, saying they were attributable to "recent rains that have made it impossible to harvest cane for ethanol production," industry insiders said Green Fuel's woes were bigger, including an alleged lack of planning.
Meanwhile, the government has relaxed the blending of petrol to 10% from 15% due to the shortage of ethanol.
Mavhaire however said the country had enough fuel stocks.
Blending started at levels of 5% ethanol to 95% petrol in October last year before being increased to 10% and 15% respectively. Government is pushing for 20% by March this year.
This comes amid rising concern about the judiciousness of the August 2013 policy or directive, which has precipitated a constitutional challenge about the rationality of the move and other issues including compatibility of the fuel to certain cars.
While Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has tried to downplay the potential crisis, saying they were attributable to "recent rains that have made it impossible to harvest cane for ethanol production," industry insiders said Green Fuel's woes were bigger, including an alleged lack of planning.
Mavhaire however said the country had enough fuel stocks.
Blending started at levels of 5% ethanol to 95% petrol in October last year before being increased to 10% and 15% respectively. Government is pushing for 20% by March this year.
Source - dailynews
