27 November 2013, Lusaka – BIOFUEL Association of Zambia (BAZ) has urged the Government to reconsider its decision to import ethanol from the neighbouring Zimbabwe.
BAZ president Thomson Sinkala said in an interview in Lusaka that the association was opposed to Government’s decision to start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe as it would disadvantage local producers and would be exporting jobs to that country.
“So we are advising Government to reconsider its decision to start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe, but should instead work towards empowering local investors,” he said.
Professor Sinkala said it would be unfair for Government to start importing ethanol from Zimbabwe at the expense of empowering local people.
He said his members had been waiting for more than eight years for Government to announce the blending ratios. He added that members could only start producing the commodity once they were given the prices which Government would be ready to accept.
Prof Sinkala said the Government should introduce incentives in the biofuel industry to enable players access equipment meant for processing the commodity.
He said with the availability of raw materials in the country, there was need to create an enabling environment to allow more players get involved in the industry.
Prof Sinkala said setting up of specific funds for production could help more people venture into production of biofuels in Zambia.
– Times of Zambia