Zimbabwe to have Biodiesel
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has so far disbursed $2,9 billion for the national biodiesel project from the $3 billion availed by Government last year.
Responding to questions from parliamentarians in Harare yesterday, RBZ governor Dr Gideon Gono said a total of $2,937 billion has so far been disbursed for the biodiesel project leaving a balance of $62 million.
The Government allocated $3 billion for the national biodiesel project in March last year.
Finealt Engineering, a registered company wholly owned by the Government, is running the project, said Dr Gono.
Said the central bank governor: "Disbursements have been allocated to plant design equipment, vehicle expenditure, recurrent expenditures, salaries, office furniture and stationery and consultancy fees."
He further noted that site preparation, which included soil tests, site clearing, environmental impact assessment, topographical survey and erection of the site offices had been completed.
"Civil works at the site are in progress. However, there is a challenge of financial resources to pay the contractor.
"Procurement of equipment, which includes steel vessels, oil expellers, lab and workshop equipment, earthing and pumping material have been delayed largely due to shortages of foreign currency," added Dr Gono.
A total site area of 102 hectares, which includes 50 hectares targeted for the production of seedlings and the Jatropha plant has been set aside.
Finealt Engineering has also applied for clearance to plant Jatropha cuttings along the major roads of the nine districts in Mashonaland East from the Department of Works in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development in an effort to increase national production of the high oil-yielding plant.
Currently, Finealt is in the process of purchasing Jatropha seed for processing once the plant is set up.
Relevant Links Southern Africa Zimbabwe Energy Sustainable Development Economy, Business and Finance Since 2005, the Government through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development and the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe has been stepping up efforts to promote the production of the Jatropha curcas plant as an alternative source of biodiesel to avert fuel shortages in the country.
Apart from extracting biodiesel fuel from Jatropha, the Government is also collaborating with Triangle Limited to reopen the ethanol blending plant which is expected to reduce the country's fuel imports by 10 percent when it becomes operational later this year.
Currently, farmers are selling a tonne of Jatropha seeds for $60 000 but they would earn more when the price of a litre of the processed biodiesel is equated with that of crude oil.
Source:-http://allafrica.com/stories/200705180176.html
Responding to questions from parliamentarians in Harare yesterday, RBZ governor Dr Gideon Gono said a total of $2,937 billion has so far been disbursed for the biodiesel project leaving a balance of $62 million.
The Government allocated $3 billion for the national biodiesel project in March last year.
Finealt Engineering, a registered company wholly owned by the Government, is running the project, said Dr Gono.
Said the central bank governor: "Disbursements have been allocated to plant design equipment, vehicle expenditure, recurrent expenditures, salaries, office furniture and stationery and consultancy fees."
He further noted that site preparation, which included soil tests, site clearing, environmental impact assessment, topographical survey and erection of the site offices had been completed.
"Civil works at the site are in progress. However, there is a challenge of financial resources to pay the contractor.
"Procurement of equipment, which includes steel vessels, oil expellers, lab and workshop equipment, earthing and pumping material have been delayed largely due to shortages of foreign currency," added Dr Gono.
A total site area of 102 hectares, which includes 50 hectares targeted for the production of seedlings and the Jatropha plant has been set aside.
Finealt Engineering has also applied for clearance to plant Jatropha cuttings along the major roads of the nine districts in Mashonaland East from the Department of Works in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development in an effort to increase national production of the high oil-yielding plant.
Currently, Finealt is in the process of purchasing Jatropha seed for processing once the plant is set up.
Relevant Links Southern Africa Zimbabwe Energy Sustainable Development Economy, Business and Finance Since 2005, the Government through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development and the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe has been stepping up efforts to promote the production of the Jatropha curcas plant as an alternative source of biodiesel to avert fuel shortages in the country.
Apart from extracting biodiesel fuel from Jatropha, the Government is also collaborating with Triangle Limited to reopen the ethanol blending plant which is expected to reduce the country's fuel imports by 10 percent when it becomes operational later this year.
Currently, farmers are selling a tonne of Jatropha seeds for $60 000 but they would earn more when the price of a litre of the processed biodiesel is equated with that of crude oil.
Source:-http://allafrica.com/stories/200705180176.html
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