Zambia to have first bio-fuel refinery project

Zambia has launched construction works for it's first-ever bio-fuel project which is expected to cater for 20 percent of the country's petroleum requirements, state media reported on Thursday.

The construction of the 190-million-U.S. dollars plant is expected to start next year in northern Zambia's Kawambwa district with production slated for 2017.

The project, being promoted by a private firm, Sunbird Bioenergy Africa which has partnered with China New Energy company, will also have a cassava plantation with expected production of 120 million liters of bioethanol per annum.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who launched the project, said the project is in line with the government's decision to diversify its petroleum requirements.

"My government has allocated 20,000 hectares of land on the farm bloc for the development of a nucleus farm and outgrower program which will produce more than 600,000 tons of cassava each year for the plant," he is quoted saying by the Times of Zambia.

The project, he said, would enable Zambia to substitute imported fuel with biofuel, and expressed optimism that the developers of the project would do a good job owing to their track record of executing more than 100 similar projects across Asia.

Richard Bennet, the company's chief executive officer said his company had identified Zambia as a lucrative destination for foreign direct investment.

The firm, he said, will also put up a 36 megawatt power station at the site at a cost of 50 million dollars. Endit