Buy Zimbabwe calls for deepening local supply chains in fuel industry

STAFF WRITER
Buy Zimbabwe has urged local energy industry players and the responsible authorities to strategically shift the country’s energy policy towards more domestication of the fuel supply chain to avert external shocks and bottlenecks caused by geopolitical conflicts.
This comes on the backdrop of the recent fuel price increases caused by the conflict in the Middle East which has seen disruption in fuel supplies through the Strait of Hormuz which accounts for a fifth of global supply.
Commenting on the current fuel price increases, Buy Zimbabwe Advocacy and Communications Officer Elvis Masvaure emphasised the need for local energy players to make good use of local bio-energy resources in order to reduce imports.
“By investing in and prioritizing local energy production such as ethanol which is used to blend with fuel, we will be able to harness our abundant natural resources, reduce imports while creating jobs and fostering sustainable economic development.
This will directly make a positive impact within the local energy industry,” said Elvis Masvaure. Masvaure stressed the importance of local energy players and how they can make use of the local resources for the benefit of the nation.
Economist Malone Gwandu said the conflict in the Middle East is unpredictable, and there is no time frame for its end, so responsible authorities need to come up with long term measures on how to counter the reliance on importing critical commodities. “The responsible authorities have a duty to implement policies that favour the growth of local energy industry players such as local blenders to reduce the import component of fuel,” he said. Gwandu also said the authorities must make use of natural resources such lithium and solar energy for the benefit of the local automotive industry.
“The government must invest towards the development of local resources such as lithium and solar energy for use as alternative sources of energy, fostering a reduction of imports and at the same time saving foreign currency for other critical purposes,” he added.
In 2025, fuel topped the list of Zimbabwe imports, accounting for a US$ 1.7 billion outflow of foreign currency. This figure can be significantly reduced if the country produces more ethanol and increases its blending ratio.