ZIMBABWE: Triangle prepares for ethanol production
Published: 03/08/2010, 5:36:31 PM
Government has set up a team of experts to finalise modalities on full-scale commercial blending of petrol and ethanol produced from sugarcane at Triangle in Chiredzi to ease petrol importation pressures on the fiscus, according to Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper.
The ethanol plant at Triangle resumed production in 2008 following refurbishment and last year produced over a million litres of fuel grade ethanol.
Secretary for Energy and Power Development Mr Justin Mupamhanga said the team comprises officials from his ministry, National Oil Company of Zimbabwe and Triangle Limited.
"Triangle is now producing fuel grade ethanol and a team has already been set up to look at issues of the blending, the infrastructure and pricing.
"Last year the plant produced over one million litres of fuel grade ethanol," he said.
Ethanol production at Triangle ceased in 1992 when unblended petrol became cheaper than blended fuel.
However, acute shortages of fuel since 1999 necessitated the resumption of ethanol production in 2008.
The fuel shortages became so acute following the imposition of sanctions on the country by Britain and her allies, leading to the drying up of some lines of credit.
The resumption of ethanol production followed an agreement between the Government, Noczim, Indian technology company Praj Industries and Triangle Limited, a subsidiary of South Africa's Tongaat Hulett Sugar to install a dehydration plant to kick start ethanol production.
The installation of the dehydration cost over US$3 million.
Zimbabwe revisited the idea of blending petrol with ethanol three years ago in line with the country's import substitution and foreign currency saving strategy.