Good news for vehicle owners in Kenya - biofuels are on their way
We reported earlier on the young German entrepreneur who took our advice to heart ("go to Africa and produce biodiesel from avocado residues"), and ventured into Kenya to start the nation's first bidiesel plant.
But there's more good news on the way. Kenyan motorists could soon be powering their gasoline vehicles too on biofuel, if an ongoing campaign to re-introduce ethanol in the national supply chain succeeds.
Experts and MPs are promoting an ambitious plan to produce ethanol fuel, which they say is cheaper and will help sugar cane farmers. A group of private sector experts and members of Parliament are pressuring the Government to introduce new policies on the production and use of ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel.
The experts, from the sugar industry and energy, who met in Nairobi last week, named Baringo Central MP and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Public Works, Mr Gideon Moi, chair of a committee formed to spearhead the ethanol policy framework.
Mr Moi will be assisted by the Sugar Campaign for Change chairman Peter Kegode, who hosted the stakeholders' meeting at the Panafric Hotel.
Top officials
Also in the committee are top officials from two leading power alcohol producers – Spectre International and Agro-Chemicals and Food Company – the Government and local universities.
In a statement, Mr Kegode said the committee will develop a policy framework that will guide the reintroduction of blending of 10 per cent ethanol and 10 per cent bio-fuel in the national fuel supply chain by December.
They want sugar companies to set up ethanol production units to enable cane farmers maximise profits from their crop.
Mr Kegode said diversifying into ethanol production was the best way to save the sugar industry from succumbing to stiff competition when the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) rules finally come into force in 2008.
Nominated MP Ruth Oniang'o and Agro-Chemicals chief executive O. P. Narang' said many countries had successfully introduced ethanol production as a bio-fuel.
Prof Oniang'o said she would lobby her colleagues in Parliament to support the ethanol campaign, saying it was good for the country.
"Countries like Brazil, India and Australia have drastically reduced the over-dependence on fossil-based fuels by introducing the bio-fuels. We can also do it in Kenya," she said.
Use of ethanol to power cars would enable farmers to earn more from their sugar cane, she said.
Prof Oniang'o urged the Government to support the ethanol production project, saying it would help cut the ever-rising cost of petrol and diesel.
The meeting brought together all key players in the bio-fuel supply chain, including petroleum and development companies, sugar industry players, industrial researchers, MPs, and ethanol processors among others.
Mr Kegode told the Nation that the meeting resolved that bio-fuels and bio-diesel groups be formed to work on supply chain issues through four major thematic areas, namely standards and quality assurance, research, fiscal and marketing and distribution.
Ethanol is a colourless flammable oxygenated hydrocarbon. It can be used as a percentage blend with or as a total substitute for petrols and diesel as a fuel ethanol, according to experts.
"Ethanol can be made by anyone with a minimum of equipment. It is a good fuel and can give extra power to certain engines, is a non-pollutant and cheaper," said Mr Kegode.
But other experts, especially from the energy sector, are calling for caution on the campaign.
Kenya Shell petroleum company chief executive Patrick Obath said re-introduction of bio-fuels into the Kenyan market could be tricky.
He said an attempt by the Government to introduce the use of power alcohol proved unsuccessful in 1983.
"There is a raft of issues to be addressed before bringing back the bio-fuels. It must be taken through a careful technical process. Last time it was introduced, cars stalled on the roads because the project was hurried," said Mr Obath.
He said the ethanol craze could be unsustainable if the global crude oil prices were to fall from the current $70 to $50 a barrel.
An official from the Ministry of Energy, Mr Peter Kagwaru, said there were plans to commission a study on the viability of bio-fuels in the country.
Daily Nation Kenya (registration req'd).
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