Service Stations Caught Selling Contaminated Fuel
THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has exposed six fuel service stations in Bulawayo for flouting standard operating regulations and duping motorists by selling contaminated fuel and blended fuel claiming it is unleaded.
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The errant fuel dealers have been dragged to court and fined different amounts, ZERA chief executive officer, Mr Eddington Mazambani, confirmed the development yesterday.
The six companies are; Meizon Amakhosi, Bulawayo, which was fined US$$300 for selling contaminated diesel and Petromoc Exor, which was charged for selling blended fuel as unblended and was fined US$300.
Clean Liquids has also been charged for selling contaminated diesel and fined US$300, the same with Clean Easy which was fined US$400.
Heaven S/St, Bulawayo was fined US$150 for selling contaminated diesel, while Oil Twenty 20 was fined US$400 for selling contaminated fuel.
In written responses to Chronicle questions, Mr Mazambani said the prosecution of the service stations was part of a national compliance initiative.
The location and allocation of land for service stations is governed by the local authorities concerned.
Service stations are required to meet EMA and Fire Departments’ safe storage of fuel requirements.
Ultimately, service stations need a ZERA license to operate and before they are given the license, they must demonstrate compliance with the following key standards or codes for the petroleum industry.
For instance, standard regulations require service tanks to have installation of underground tanks, pumps and pipework at service stations and consumer installations.
Service Stations Caught Selling Contaminated Fuel
Mr Mazambani said ZERA does not only enforce standards but also conducts awareness training sessions with stakeholders on the standards and best practices to facilitate compliance.
Two of the companies that have recently been prosecuted and whose documents were gleaned by this publication are Boss Petroleum Investment, which was represented by Maryln Mpofu, who pleaded guilty to the charge of operating without a ZERA certificate.
She appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomagugu Maphosa.
The court heard that on October 3 this year ZERA, through one of its officers, was checking ZERA retail licences at fuel stations.
While checking for compliance at Boss Petroleum Investment, staff at the station failed to produce an operating license.
The service station was given one week grace period to get a ZERA retail license but failed to get one leading to its prosecution.
