by Tinashe Makichi (The Sunday Mail) The Zimbabwe Energy Council will engage the Energy and Power Development Ministry over relaxation of legislation compelling investors to enter joint ventures with Government if they want ethanol production licences.
The council is of the opinion that Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013 is an impediment to investment in ethanol production.
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Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail Business, Energy Council executive director Mr Panganai Sithole said: “Our concern as Zec has been that the governing statutory instrument demands that for one to be given a licence he has to be in a joint venture with the Government of Zimbabwe.
“We do not find any rationale for such a restrictive clause. This clause goes against the dictates of ease of doing business.”
He said oil companies imported over 500 million litres of petrol annually but had never been asked to partner Government.
“So why should ethanol producers be forced to be in joint ventures with Government when they produce just 10 percent of fuel? Secondly, due to current economic challenges, Government does not have significant resources to contribute to their own shareholding,” added Mr Sithole. READ MORE