adminTakunda Maodza recently at Chisumbanje
Green Fuel is pleading with the Government to consider introducing at least 20 percent mandatory ethanol-petrol blending to maximise national benefits from the US$600 million investment at Chisumbanje and in the process guarantee viability of ethanol production.Government recently introduced a mandatory 5 percent blending after years of quarrelling in the now defunct inclusive Government over the project leading to its paralysis, threatening over 4000 jobs.
The mill resumed operations recently with the introduction of 5 percent mandatory blending but the plant has once again been temporarily shut down as the 1,5 million storage tanks on site are all full.
Africa’s largest ethanol producer has the capacity to process 374 000 litres of ethanol daily yet it is selling between 60 000 and 70 000 litres a day, leaving surplus ethanol accumulating at an average rate of 300 000 litres daily.
When The Herald visited Chisumbanje this week, there was no production taking place at the plant although there are mega developments on the plantation side.
“The gazetting of 5 percent mandatory blending has given us the opportunity to start the development of an additional 600 hectares of cane which is currently underway and would be completed by the end of December this year. We are looking at the expansion of the project by 3 500 hectares next season to take the whole project to 12 000 hectares.
Currently, we have 9 000 hectares under cane at Chisumbanje and the Middle Sabi,” said Mr Jeremy Doig, the agricultural manager.
“Five percent blending has given us confidence. Service providers are coming back to source business with us but at the moment the mill is not operating because our tanks are full.
We are waiting for the 10 percent mandatory blending which we expect to come on board soon.”
The temporary plant closure has forced Green Fuel to sell raw cane to Hippo Valley and Triangle instead of directing it towards ethanol production.
“We have been selling cane to Hippo Valley and Triangle to keep our cash flow rolling over,” said Mr Doig.
The company’s operations engineer Mr Eric Berejena, said the plant had capacity to produce between 250 000 and 374 000 litres of ethanol a day.
“In one month we can produce six months worth of ethanol. This means we run for a month and close the mill for the next six months.
‘‘There is a need to push the blending percentage to at least 20 percent. There is huge potential and we can even go up to E25.
“That is 25 percent ethanol and 75 percent petrol. We have got cars running on E85 and E100 here at Chisumbanje since 2011,” he said.
Mr Berejena said disagreements over the Chisumbanje ethanol during the tenure of the inclusive Government mystified a project with great potential for the country.
“Ian Smith blended up to E35 when his Government was under sanctions yet our product is of much better quality. Right now we are selling between 60 000 and 70 000 litres a day yet we have capacity to produce up to 374 000 litres a day. We are very grateful for the 5 percent mandatory blending but it is like a father buying his son a Ferrari on his birthday which runs 360 km/h and order him to drive at 10 km/h. We urgently need E25. The run would be continuous and everyone stands to benefit,” he said.
Apart from ethanol, Green Fuel is an energy consortium with capacity to produce 18 MegaWatts of electricity but it can only do that when fully and continuously operational. It was producing only 4MW before the plant was shut down. It also produces carbon dioxide, an essential raw material for beverage companies.
The new Minister of Energy and Power Development Dzikamai Mavhaire, said he was not yet ready to comment, preferring to start by giving his vision for the ministry next week.
Countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Lesotho and Botswana have sent delegations to study the Chisumbanje Ethanol plant with the intention of setting up similar projects.
Online Reporter