adminsent 5 000 workers on forced leave when it ran out of storage space after it reached the full stock capacity of 10 million litres.
The Government, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority entered into partnership with Macdom, the parent company for Green Fuels, to produce ethanol in a move aimed at cutting the fuel import bill.
Arda board chairperson Mr Basil Nyabadza said principals in the inclusive Government should consider the fate of over 20 000 families who survive indirectly from the US$600 million ethanol plant. “We appeal to the Government to move with speed and save the ethanol plant from collapsing. We want to see common sense prevailing because the 5 000 employees are eager to retain their jobs as the situation on the ground is deteriorating,” he said.
“Currently there are serious food shortages at household level in the area and most of these rely on the plant for survival. The principals should be moved by the prevailing situation to come up with a lasting solution to the challenges threatening the plant,” he said. Green Fuels is losing US$15 000 daily in potential revenue due to low uptake of the commodity while Arda was also lamenting the loss of its revenue base. Before suspension of operations, the plant was producing 160 million litres of ethanol annually against an installed capacity of 500 million litres. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter