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State ponders importing ethanol
Harare, May 25, 2013,ZANIS—Government is considering to start importing ethanol as an alternative source of fuel.
This came to light when deputy minister of Mines, Energy and Water development George Zulu toured Chisumbanje fuel plant and sugar estates in Harare , Zimbabwe.
ZANIS reports that the deputy minister is in Zimbabwe to assess whether Zambia can import ethanol to cushion the pressure of high fuel prices in the country.
In Zimbabwe, diesel is selling at US$1.50 and Petrol is US$1.32 although the prices vary per distance and place.
Mr. Zulu explained that Zimbabwe had progressed in the energy sector in terms of renewable energies from which Zambia still had a lot to learn from.
He noted that the solution to the high fuel prices in the country is not to throw stones at the government but to alternative sources.
Mr. Zulu stated that the short term solution to the current fuel problems is to import ethanol from Zimbabwe considering that it was cheaper.
He said Government would soon start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe before coming up with its own ethanol plant at Nakambala Sugar Estate.
Mr. Zulu said he is aware that fuel in Zimbabwe is cheaper than in Zambia as the country is uses ethanol just like her other neighbour Malawi.
And Green Fuel (PVT) Limited sales manager Conrad Rautenbach said the company was ready to start exporting the commodity to Zambia because it has the capacity to do so.
He said the company had been focusing on the local market, but that it is now ready to export to other countries like South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia.
Mr. Rautenbach said the plant has the capacity to produce 2000 litters or more of ethanol per day.
The deputy minister is today expected to tour the ethanol storage and blending facilities as well as and the Beira pipeline
