The project has excited President Mnangagwa who commented on X after he commissioned the plant, “Today, I commissioned the magnificent Mabvuku Ethanol Plant. It is a stride in Zimbabwe’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency and green economy. This is the future of sustainable development and energy in our nation.”
The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) is in charge of the US$7,3 million facility, which is expected to be a major contributor to Zimbabwe’s efforts to increase its capacity in renewable energy resources.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has been promoting the use of biofuels to meet the growing demand for more sustainable and renewable energy sources. Specifically, the use of ethanol and biogas is being encouraged, the latter particularly in communal areas where social development organisations are driving the adoption of the fuel.
The Mabvuku ethanol storage and handling facility is expected to not only save Zimbabwe foreign currency, but will also create job opportunities.
The operationalisation of the plant has significantly increased Zimbabwe’s national storage and handling capacity, which has now risen to 11.2 million litres, compared to the previous 5.2 million litres.
The nation has experienced a surge in economic activity, leading to a change in lifestyle that has caused the demand for fuel to skyrocket. In particular, the demand for petrol and diesel has grown to an estimated 3 million and 4 million litres per day, respectively.
In order to meet the demands for different types of fuel while also striving for a more sustainable future, the strategy of ethanol blending has been adopted with great success in this country. This approach provides a cleaner fuel alternative that contributes to a more environmentally friendly future.
Zimbabwe’s government must ensure that the biofuels industry has access to sufficient feedstock in order for it to continue to grow and remain sustainable. Blending petrol with ethanol is a key part of this process.
Text by Martin Chemhere