THE government yesterday said the country has enough fuel stocks despite the challenges faced by oil companies in accessing cash to import the product, dispelling fears of a crippling fuel shortage.
BY Stephen Chadenga
There have been erratic fuel supplies at some filling stations across the country in recent weeks, forcing some motorists to queue for the precious commodity.
But Energy and Power Development permanent secretary Patson Mbiriri said Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe were currently seized with the matter and setting up measures to address the temporary challenges.
“We have adequate stocks in the country, but the point is that those stocks are bonded,” Mbiriri told NewsDay on the sidelines of a Renewable Energy Policy first draft stakeholders meeting held in Gweru yesterday.
“The instruments that should be taken to release those stocks and have them available are finance matters and once the finance mechanisms are sorted out, it would be a matter of hours or a day before replenishments are undertaken wherever they are needed,” he said.
“That challenge is really a finance issue that is being attended to by Treasury and the central bank.”
Meanwhile, Mbiriri said government, through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera), had crafted a Renewable Energy Policy to encourage use of alternative sources of energy like solar power that have not been fully utilised or developed over the years.
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He said the final draft of the policy was expected before the end of this year.
Mbiriri also revealed that Zera cancelled five licences of the 30 Independent Power Producers after they failed to implement proposed projects to generate electricity.
