Ethanol producer, Green Fuel Private Limited has dismissed
as false recent allegations by the suspended Zanu-PF secretary for the
commissariat Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu that the company was engaged in corrupt and
unethical business practices to obtain a monopoly in ethanol blending, pointing
out that there is already a competitor.
The company said prices for ethanol were set by the
Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.
In a statement yesterday, the company said the statements
made by Cde Tsenengamu were false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory.
“In light of the false, malicious, irresponsible and
defamatory statements made by Godfrey Tsenengamu on the 3rd of February 2020 in
which he inferred and alleged that Green Fuel (Private) Limited had engaged in
corrupt and unethical business practices to obtain a ‘monopoly in ethanol
blending’ and that Green Fuel’s ethanol is expensive thereby spiralling the
price of petrol upwards,’ Green Fuel would like to advise and respond as
follows:
“Green Fuel does not have a monopoly in ethanol production
or blending. It is common knowledge that any entity who meets the necessary
statutory requirements detailed within the Petroleum (Mandatory Blending of
Anhydrous Ethanol with Unleaded Petrol) Regulations, 2013, can apply and obtain
a licence for the purpose of supplying ethanol for mandatory blending.
“To this effect, it is a well-known fact that a joint
venture established between Triangle Limited and the National Oil
Infrastructural Company (NOIC) has also been supplying ethanol for mandatory
blending purposes since 2017,” reads the statement.
The company said the price of their ethanol was regulated
and approved by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, just like the prices
of petrol and diesel.
“Green Fuel’s ethanol price has at all times remained
significantly cheaper than the petrol pump price. As a consequence, when
blended with petrol, it actually brings the petrol pump price down, translating
into consumer savings. The use of ethanol, being a substitute for imported
petrol, also results in foreign currency savings at a national level. This
saved foreign currency can then be used for other critical imported products
such as fertilizer, electricity, maize etc.
“In addition to reducing the petrol pump price and saving
foreign currency, Green Fuel’s project has also contributed to the nation’s
socio-economic development through the creation of thousands of jobs, local
skills development, renewable power generation, improving the availability of
petrol, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and rural and community
development through the company’s extensive corporate social responsibility
programme. We refer you to Green Fuel’s website for more information,” the
company said.
Last week, the Zanu PF Politburo suspended deputy secretary
for youth, Cde Lewis Matutu and Cde Tsenengamu for indiscipline after they
violated party procedure by convening a Press conference accusing prominent
businessmen of corruption.
The revolutionary party also removed Cde Pupurai Togarepi
from his post as secretary for the Youth League.
Cde Togarepi will, however, remain a Central Committee
member while Cdes Matutu and Tsenengamu
revert to being ordinary card-carrying members. Herald
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