LUPANE, Zimbabwe – COMOIL (Pvt) Ltd has been fined US$250 by the Lupane Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of selling petrol with ethanol content exceeding the legally allowed limit.
The company, represented by supervisor Livingstone Mubvumbi, violated E20 ZWS 964 standards, which cap ethanol content at 20%. The breach was uncovered during a routine inspection by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) on 6 December 2024.
Samples collected from COMOIL’s Lupane station revealed ethanol levels above 50%. The Zimbabwe Standards Authority (SAZ) later verified the findings, leading to tanks containing the non-compliant fuel being sealed.
The company was charged under Statutory Instruments 123/2013 and 171/2014 for failing to meet fuel quality regulations. Comoil was established by former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere in 2000 after the liberalisation of the petroleum marketing and distribution sector in Zimbabwe. It is currently being managed by his daughter Natasha Kasukuwere.
The case highlights ongoing concerns among motorists, who often complain about fuel quality and its impact on vehicle performance.