Price of E10 fuel too high: President

E10 costs US$1,44 per litre at some service stations, while in other countries the price averages around US$0,75 per litre. An official at the E10 stand said they had the technology to produce E85 in which ethanol would make up 85 percent of the blended fuel.

Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma recently said the Government would not introduce mandatory blending of ethanol and petrol until Green Fuel – a US$600 million ethanol project in Manicaland – explains why their product was more expensive than in other countries.

Green Fuel has shut down its Chisumbanje factory, sending home nearly 4 500 workers.

The Government recently appointed a Cabinet committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara to revive the factory.

The committee has since made two visits to the plant to familiarise itself with problems affecting the blending and eventual sell of E10.

President Mugabe toured various stands at the RIE expo, where he commended research work being done by different institutions.

He was particularly interested in the recently launched Sirdamaize 113 seed exhibited at the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre.

President Mugabe also toured stands for the Tobacco Research Board, Mutare Polytechnic, Kwekwe Polytechnic and MP Enterprises, which makes protective clothing.

At the Harare Polytechnic stand, President Mugabe commended the development of a drip irrigation system suitable for both large scale and small scale farmers.

He also tested a cake made from the masau fruit at the stand.

President Mugabe toured the University of Zimbabwe stand where academics such as Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki, Prof Barbara Maasdorp, Prof Claude Mararike, Prof Chipo Dyanda and Prof Julie Stewart displayed their research work.

He took sometime at a stand displaying research on the Tonga tribe, where he was told that research was underway on the tribe on both sides of the Zambezi River.

He also toured stands for the National University of Science and Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Bindura University of Science Education and Solusi University.

The second edition of RIA, which started on Wednesday, ends today.