‘No going back on ethanol project’

will immensely benefit the country, President Mugabe said yes­terday.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zim­babwe Defence Forces, made the remarks while officially launching the Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in Harare.

Some elements in the inclusive Government are working tirelessly to bring the US$600 million ethanol for petrol blending joint venture project between the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority and Rating and Macdom Investments to its knees.
President Mugabe said these ele­ments were paying a blind eye to the project’s benefits to the nation.
The President spoke for the first time about the ethanol project saga that has been going on for some time now, with parties presenting conflict­ing information about the project.

“The Bio-technology policy was mainly focused on the production of biofuels in the form of ethanol and biodiesel. The production of ethanol for petrol blend in Chisumbanje has since been translated into a reality, and this has consequently placed Zim­babwe in pole position in Africa in the production of ethanol. I am sure, minor technical and adminis­trative challenges will not be allowed to derail or overshadow such a major and posi­tive development,” he said.
He said the project on biodiesel was also on course.

“What is needed is to increase the hectarage for jatropha cultivation in order to supply enough feedstock to the refinery plants.
“Government is prepared to increase its investment in this project. Acting in combination, the biofuel projects should guarantee Zim­babwe’s fuel self-sufficiency, espe­cially crucial in the face of the often unreliable supplies of fuel, whose short supply is largely exacerbated by the effects of heinous and illegal sanc­tions,” President Mugabe said.

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The MDC-T has been very nega­tive to the project challenging its owner­ship structure and shooting down efforts by Green Fuel to have manda­tory blending of ethanol and petrol.

The country imports fuel worth around US$1. 2 billion annually.
The figure represents almost half of Government’s annual income.
Independent statistics indicate that petrol blending will help Zimbabwe serve over US$200 000 on petroleum products daily.

The savings are likely to increase if more motorists fit in gadgets that enable their vehicles to use E100.
Cabinet has since set up a commit­tee of ministers to assist in the draft­ing of terms of reference to guide the transformation of the ownership of Green Fuel from a Built Operate and Transfer Project to a joint venture company. The committee was tasked to engage a private consultant to look into various issues surrounding the ownership transformation.

The findings and recommenda­tions of the private consultant will then inform the negotiations. The nation is already feeling the negative impact of political bickering over the Chisumbanje ethanol project.