SWEDISH COMPANY ACQUIRES LARGE TRACKS OF LAND TO START BIOFUEL PROJECT IN TANZANIA

Kisumu

22 - 12 - 2007 12:22

By Leo Odera Omolo

A Swedish firm is reported to have secured a large track of land in Tanzania to start production of bio fuel for electricity generation.

The firm Swedish Ethanol Chemistry AB (SEKAB) has secured 120,000 hectare of land.

Registered locally as Sekab Bio-Energy Tanzania Ltd, it has been allocated 20,000 hectares at Ramba farm in Rugamoyo district and another 100,000 hectare in Rufiji district, both in the country's coastal t region.

The land according to reports will be used for sugar cane production and to put up a bioethanol and bio power planted.

Sekab AB communication manager Annika Carstedt was recently in Tanzania and was quoted extensively as saying that the company plans to actively promote sustainable transport system with the help of a long-term , sustainable fuel project.

Ms Carstedt who is still in the country is currently involved in conducting a long - term industrial initiative in cellulose-based ethanol and the development of production facilities on an international scale, including its production in Tanzania.

Sekab AB goal is to develop an industrial structure that will enable the supply of knowledge and equipment for the production of cellulose-based ethanol, as well as the construction of production facilities in Sweden and other parts of the world.

Sekab AB group is one of Europe's leading producers and distributors of bio ethanol fuel and green chemical products.

Sekab CEO for Carstedt was also quoted as saying that Tanzania trials for the production of ethanol started in September and mass production will commence next year.

These projects are expected to generate more than 300,000 jobs with an additional 200,000 during the expansion period.

The Swedish firm will also acquire the former scania assembly plant in Kibaha where vehicles that use ethanol biofuel will be assembled for sale in Africa.

"Sekab and Scania are said to have held talks with authorities in Dar Es Salaam on the possibility of supplying vehicles that use ethanol fuel" ,

Ethanol is an alcohol with many different application and used in industry applications because of its solvent properties.

The industrially produced ethanol is used in water based paint, pharmaceuticals, verniones and inks, among other things.

Sekab produces and handles only bioethanol -ethanol derived from biological sources through the fermentation of sugar.

President Jakaya Kikwete was recently quoted as saying that Sekab AB will be fuelling ethaernol factories in Tanzania and the government will provide the Swedish firm with incentives and promote use of cheaper fuels.

"The production of bioethernol from sugar cane could become a major export industry in Africa," said the Tanzanian head of state.

Sekab AB has commissioned Vattentall .. Power Consultant Firm to study the possibility of large scale cultivation of sugar in Tanzania.

End

Leo Odera Omolo