State Ready to Blend in Biofuels

22 April 2011

THE Government is now ready to start blending biofuels into national fuel mix and will need 21 million litres of bio-diesel and 18 million litres of bio-ethanol per year once the exercise is fully implemented.

Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso said for the current period of up to 2015, 10 per cent of bioethanol will be mixed with petrol while five per cent of biodiesel will be added to diesel to come up with the new blend which will be relatively cheaper.

In a statement in Lusaka, Mr Kasonso said the mix as proposed in the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) would not require any reconfiguration of the car engines as it could be used on the local motor vehicles without any problems.

“With these developments biofuel can now be used in the national fuel mix. The merit of including the biofuel in the national fuel mix lies in the fact that it will translate in the reduction in the amount and cost of importing petroleum feedstock for refining at the Indeni Oil Refiner,” he said.

Based on the current consumption figures of petroleum products in Zambia, the required quantities for biofuels per annum were estimated to be 21 million litres for biodiesel and 18 million litres of bioethanol.

Biofuel standards ZS E100 and ZS B100 for ethanol and diesel respectively were already available with the Zambia Bureau of Standards.

“With these developments, Government is now ready to facilitate the blending of biofuels. Until further notice, Government intends to purchase all the bioethanol and bio-diesel that conforms to ZS E100 and ZS B100,” Mr Kasonso said.

Through Statutory Instrument number 42 of 2008 under the Energy Regulation Act, the Energy Regulation Board has been mandated to regulate the production and use of bio-fuels in the country.

To streamline the effective phasing in of bio-fuel in the national fuel mix, the ministry is soliciting for suggestions from stakeholders on how the exercise can be effectively implemented.

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