Zimbabwe to adopt diesel 50 by June 2017

The government is moving towards the phasing out of diesel 500 by June next year with the adoption of diesel 50 as regional countries are harmonising specifications.

News on the deadline for the adoption of diesel 50 by regional countries using the Beira terminal came through during a diesel 50 promotional workshop in the capital.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development Mr Patson Mbiriri said there is need to inform the motoring public on the advantages of using diesel 50.

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) Chief Executive Officer Engineer Gloria Magombo said there has been an increase in the usage of diesel 50 from a monthly consumption of 1.7 million litres last year to four million litres this year.

In preparation for the wide use of diesel 50, ZERA has acquired a sulphur tester which ascertains the sulphur levels of fuel at service stations.

By the adoption of diesel 50, the nation will be bracing up for diesel 10 by 2020.

Diesel 50 has less emissions than the diesel 500 which is widely used in the region.