Mozambique Invests in Ethanol Production

MOZAMBIQUE – Mozambique is currently investing around US$710 million ethanol production projects from raw cane sugar, according to the Centre for Agricultural Promotion (Cepagri).

Macauhub reports that in 2008 the Mozambique government approved a second ethanol project in Manica province.

The total area set aside for the approved projects was 48,000 hectares, with production expected to reach around 440 million litres of ethanol, from an investment estimated at US$710 million.

OPfficial data from Cepagri, shows that there are also various proposals for ethanol production projects from cane sugar and sorghum, being considered.

The government has already granted a company called Procana permission to use 30,000 hectares of land in Gaza province to gro sugar cane for ethanol.

By 2020, an area of between 80,000 and 130,000 hectares could be under cultivation producing between 835 million and 1.6 billion litres of ethanol, with the EU as the principle market, Macauhub says.