There is need to maximize the use of renewable energy sources such as jatropha that can bring relief to Zimbabwe, which is grappling with erratic fuel and chemical fertilizer supplies, minister of energy Mike Nyambuya has said. The minister was speaking during a field day at Jonah Chimusoro’s 480-hectare farm just outside Harare .
Chimusoro is one of the first farmers to embark on large-scale jatropha production, which is expected to produce 50,000 litres of bio-diesel by 2008. "This farm is where we are launching our grand strategy to fully utilise the jatropha tree, which is one such renewable resource," Nyambuya said. He said Zimbabwe was blessed with good soils and endowed with an excellent climate and this should be exploited to the benefit of the nation. The time had come for the country to be self-sufficient and look for alternative sources of fuel, especially jatropha, he said.
The plant produces seeds that can be used in the production of bio-diesel, a clean alternative fuel made from oils and the by-products will be insecticides and fatty acids for soap production. The residue can be processed for organic manure and animal feed.
"Generally, foreign currency is a challenge for us. We cannot access lines of credit from the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. So we have to be self-sufficient. We have to pay cash up-front to get fuel," the minister said. "It is important that we give jatropha the importance accorded to other crops. Jatropha is not only a source of fuel but it will empower our farmers," Nyambuya added.
Nyambuya said government has intensified efforts to develop an alternative source of fuel and identified 122,000 hectares of land for jatropha cultivation. The government was targeting to substitute 10 percent of the country’s annual diesel consumption with bio-fuels by 2010. Nyambuya said centres for jatropha farming would be set up in all provinces and farmers would access seedlings and information on cultivating the crop. He said the country was also targeting to substitute 25 percent of petrol by blending it with ethanol to reduce the fuel import bill. The National Oil Company of Zimbabwe has been tasked by the government to oversee the National Bio-diesel Feedstock Production Project and would fund the projects.
The Herald
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