Tanzania to import ethanol from Brazil

Dar es Salaam.Tanzania is set to import ethanol from Brazil in its bid to lower fuel prices by 10 per cent.

This was said in Dar es Salaam over the weekend by Mr Leo Lyayuka, a senior principle marketing officer at the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) during a media training seminar organised by the ministry of Energy and Minerals on bio-fuel.

As TPDC strives to ensure that Tanzania also starts using ethanol as a way of reducing consumption of petrol, the ministry has issued guidelines for sustainable liquid bio-fuels development.Mr Lyayuka said ethanol was also a high-performance motor fuel that cuts poisonous exhaust emissions, making it more desirable to environmental conservation.

“The standard amount of oxygen in fuel recommended internationally is 3.7 to 3.8 per cent in petrol,” he said, noting that before the exercise begins there will be a statement from the minister for Energy and Minerals notifying the general public on the use of ethanol.

He said ethanol blends reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer, and high-level ethanol blends reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 20 per cent. He added that it adds engine life span and fuel efficiency.

Commenting on the benefits of ethanol, Mr Lyayuka, said it was much cleaner fuel than petrol and it’s a renewable fuel made from plants and it provides high octane at low cost as an alternative to harmful fuel additives.

As TPDC is set to introduce the technology in Tanzania in the coming four months, the ministry of Energy and Minerals has set guidelines for the bio-fuel products in the country. Guideline number 30 states that, any bio-fuel development must ensure that there is abidance to land use plan in order to avoid threatening potential land for food crop production, livestock, rearing and other human needs.

“Investors or developers shall use land for specified energy crop in case of default, Tanzania Investment Act of 1997 shall be applied to institute legal proceedings against the investors or developers,” the guideline book quotes

source: thecitizen.co.tz