Billy Rautenbach’s company has responded to Godfrey Tsenengamu’s corruption allegations by calling such claims as false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory.
Green Fuel says that it has no monopoly in ethanol production or blending against Tsenengamu’s utterance at a press briefing last week.
“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 license for the purpose of supplying ethanol for mandatory blending,” the company says.
“To this effect, it is a well-known fact that a Joint Venture established between Triangle Limited and the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) has also been supplying ethanol for mandatory blending.”
Tsenengamu and Lewis Mutatu last accused Rautenberg of spiralling fuel price upwards thereby making ordinary Zimbabweans suffer in the end.
Matutu said Rautenbach should not enjoy the monopoly of blending petroleum in the country.
“Why is Billy enjoying that monopoly?” ranted Matutu.
The Zimbabwe government has made it a mandatory to blend petroleum under Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013 and the youths are demanding some space in the blending and ethanol production industry.
Green fuel, in response to allegations of spiralling fuel costs up, says the company’s ethanol price is regulated and approved by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), just like petrol and diesel.
“Green Fuel’s ethanol price has at all times remained significantly cheaper than the petrol pump price,” Rautenbach’s firm says. “As a consequence, when blended with petrol, it actually brings the petrol 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 fertiliser, electricity, maize etc.”
The man behind Green Fuel, Rautenbach has been a controversial figure, once listed on United States individuals under sanctions during Robert Mugabe era.
Rautenberg’s name also appeared in leaked Panama documents accused of helping companies, celebrities, businessmen and politicians launder money through illicit financial flows and sanctions-busting.
