Release
Ethanol concern Green Fuel is one of the more than 400 corporations in the energy sector set to participate in the inaugural Zimbabwe International Energy and Power Conference (ZIEPC) running from September 27-29. The conference theme, “Driving Investment in Zimbabwe Power and Energy sectors and promoting clean/renewable energy technologies for industrial applications in energy intensive sectors” dovetails into Green Fuel’s niche of clean renewable motoring fuel – ethanol.
Green Fuel’s participation in the energy investment forum is not only a strategic entrance into the market but will herald the completion of the first ethanol plant at Chisumbanje in Manicaland, set to be the biggest ethanol factory on the African continent. Green Fuel general manager Graeme Smith said the plant is the tail end of the commissioning phase with an initial current production capacity of between 120 000 and 130 000 liters of ethanol per day.
“We have the ethanol plant operational at this point in time, we are now in a period where we are testing our procedures and although we are under production conditions we are still very much in the commissioning phase where we are making adjustments to the plant to maximize operations – hopefully within the next couple of weeks we will have that process completed. In terms of ethanol distribution, we await for government’s regulatory authority before we commence.”
At this stage, Green Fuel’s ethanol plant is operating 24 hours processing 2,500 tons daily and focus is on giving the factory additional capacity for larger volumes of output. In terms of renewable energy, Green Fuel will produce renewable clean ethanol fuel as well as 18 MW of electricity as a byproduct- a third of this will be used to power the plant while the balance is fed into the national grid as excess.
Green Fuel’s ethanol project represents one of the largest continental investment portfolios in the energy and power sector. ZIEPC is being coordinated by Hunal Investments. Director Allen Hunda says that by having a conference that exposes the extent of involvement of energy and power companies like Green Fuel, Sakunda Energy, Engen, Zimbabwe Power Company, Zimbabwe Electricity, Transmission and Distribution Company and other companies already operating in Zimbabwe, the conference organizers and key note speakers have the opportunity to outline the full extent of the industry, and profile how large the industry’s contribution really is to the economy of Zimbabwe. Delegates for the ZIEPC will converge in Zimbabwe from both local and regional players in the energy and power sector. The conference will give international delegates an opportunity to set up synergies with Zimbabwean companies.
For more information email media@gfuel.org or phone Lilian Muungani on 0773 236 425
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