News

October 02, 2008

Sun Biofuels And Sekab Kick Start Tanzania’s Biofuels Industry

Tawanda Karombo In Southern Africa

At a time when the world is warming up rapidly, investors have begun to cast around in a variety of ways and regions for power from outside the traditional sources. And while the neither renewable nor alternative power sources craze has struck at the core of every country, the world does appear to be showing an interest in Africa, and isn’t shy about investing either. Tanzania is warming up to investment in its alternative fuels sector after the United Kingdom’s Sun Biofuels and the Swedish company Sekab indicated plans to venture into this crucial sector of this Southern African country.

Soaring fuel prices and global warming have made alternative fuels increasingly fashionable. Hence, Sun Biofuels’ intention to grow about 5,500 hectares of the biofuel plant jatropha in Tanzania. This project, said Sun Biofuels managing director in Tanzania Peter Auege, will be undertaken to completion over the next ten years. "If we plant 1,000 hectares a year, it will take us five to six years to plant the land," said Auege, adding that: "We are almost a year away from planting. It will take...