COMOIL Fined for Selling Non-Compliant Fuel
BY LAVENDER CHABATA
In a significant ruling, the Lupane Magistrates’ Court has found COMOIL (Pvt) Ltd guilty of selling petrol with excessive ethanol content. The company, represented by supervisor Livingstone Mubvumbi, 42, was fined US$250 for violating fuel quality regulations.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) conducted an inspection at the Lupane Station on December 6, 2024, which revealed ethanol levels exceeding 50% in fuel samples. This blatant disregard for the E20 ZWS 964 standards prompted authorities to seal the tanks containing the non-compliant fuel blend.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA), further verification by the Standards Authority of Zimbabwe (SAZ) confirmed the breach, leading to COMOIL being charged under statutory instruments SI 23/2013 and SI 171/2014.
The ruling serves as a warning to fuel retailers to adhere to quality regulations and maintain compliance with national standards.
