Indian company Praj Industries has expressed its readiness to share knowledge with Tanzania on ethanol production from agricultural products and blending ethanol with petroleum to help the African country reduce its petroleum imports, according to a local media outlet.
Ethanol is a biofuel, produced mainly from plants with high sugar content, such as sugar cane. Praj Industries Assistant Vice President Tushar Patil highlighted that the company is an international enterprise, specializing in biothermal technology and engineering, operates in over 70 countries, including about 50 biofuel projects in Africa, as reported.
Blending ethanol and petrol or diesel not only allows the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 30%, but it also reportedly enhances the quality and quantity of the fuel.
According to Patil, the energy crops such as cassava and sugarcane ensure Tanzania's biofuel potential, the report noted.
"Tanzania has similar conditions to India for having agriculture potential in different crops," he was quoted as saying.
Patil also underlined that "to produce biofuels, robust supply chain development with the help of a policy framework is needed because there is a huge demand that is going to take on the role of cooking fuel as well as transportation fuel," the outlet revealed.
The advantages of biofuels include job creation in rural areas and a contribution to reducing the effects of climate change, Patil said, according to the media. Biofuels also facilitate the decrease of imports, save foreign exchange, and increase farmers' revenues, the report said.
Moreover, he emphasized that the development of this alternative source of energy could attract foreign investments in raw materials given a strong policy framework and clear consumption guidelines, the newspaper noted.
In mid-November, South Sudan's Ministry of Petroleum Undersecretary Mayen Wol Jong highlighted that thanks to the abundance of resources in Africa, the continent is ready for a shift to green energy.
During the first African Climate Summit in Kenya's capital Nairobi, UN Secretary-General Guterres urged the international community to work together to make Africa a global leader in renewable energy, aiming to combat the negative effects of climate change.