Gloria Magombo, the chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulator Authority (ZERA)
GOVERNMENT is planning to introduce a grading system for fuel outlets in a bid to ensure standards are met and followed in the petroleum industry.
Once the grading system is in place, it would be harder for fuel outfits whose products do not meet set standards to get business because grades would be displayed at service stations for every motorist to see.
This means motorists would use or prefer fuel dealers with good grades and selling high quality products.
Gloria Magombo, the chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulator Authority (ZERA), confirmed the development.
“We are introducing a retail site grading system and we are going to be implementing it before the end of the first quarter of next year,” said Magombo.
She, however, could not give further details.
The proposed change in the sector underscores the authority’s new drive to ensure that standards are set and followed for all fuels and fuel blends.
This system is being implemented in other countries in the southern African region, as well.
Some stakeholders have expressed concern over high volumes of fuel imported into the country through illegal channels, saying this was placing motorists at risk.
Many fuel importers have avoided using the Feruka pipeline that runs from Beira in Mozambique to Harare in order to evade paying duty to government.
Some of the fuel tankers get into the country under the pretext that they are destined for Zambia only for the fuel to be offloaded in Zimbabwe.
ZERA checks fuel imports arriving at Msasa Deport and takes samples from service stations.
Several fuel dealers in the country have been prosecuted for not adhering to set standards over the years, but their identities have often been kept secret.
It has also been alleged that some service stations are diluting diesel with paraffin to boost profits.
The authority has, meanwhile, commissioned a mobile laboratory which speeds up testing.
Those fuel dealers who cheat risk loss of business.
For many years, the fuel sector was a very closely -guarded business with few players, but government liberalised the sector in 2008, allowing individuals and private companies with free funds to source petrol and diesel offshore for sale on the local market.
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