By Martin Muleya.
Mutare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – It is in the public domain that Green Fuel has gone a gear up in its bid to consolidate the country’s economic gains.
The company continues to grow from strength to strength hitting some impressive records in the last few months.
The recent media tour where journalists toured the plant and also had the opportunity to interact with the second batch of trainees, spoke volumes of the company’s endeavour to respond to the huge brain drain that has seen mass exodus of educated youths leaving the country to seek employment elsewhere, is just but one among many forays the company officials have embarked on, in pursuit of economic opportunities.
The one day tour by the scribes on the Green Fuel Apprenticeship program as well as other projects was encouraging as it goes a long way in injecting hope and momentum into the economy.
“When the plant started operating we had government apprentices but then we realised that we could have our own apprentices and we decided to embark on this programme last year. With the various trades that are offered at the plant, this will cater for students who need to get attachment or experience.
“The company for the first 2years will be benefitting from government as it will be government paying the wages of the apprentices. They will take over during their third and fourth year,” said Regional Registrar Joseph Gwara.
In August 2015, over 7 million litres of ethanol was produced by the factory, equating to over 220, 000 litres per day. The factory then generated an incredible 3, 922. 94MWH of electricity and exported 1, 135.93MWH into the national grid.
“Basically we are saying, 1MW can usually power up to 1, 000 homes, so the amount of green, renewable energy exported by Green Fuel two months ago was enough to power over 1 million households.
“The factory currently has the capacity to produce up to 18MW of electricity per day, allowing it to power itself and export excess electricity into the central grid. The plant utilizes 3MW for ethanol production and a 54km power-line has been built by the company, in partnership with ZETDC, to supply power to the national grid.
“This year, to date, the company has exported almost 4, 000MWH of green, renewable electricity into the national grid.
“Once the project is in its final stages and Condo Dam has been built, the plant will have the capacity to generate 86MW of electricity per day, as well as a further 40 MW to be generated by hydroelectric power from Condo Dam,” reiterated Green Fuel Chief Chemist Officer Alec Mupariwa.
The diarisation of activities at Green Fuel will act as a monitoring and evaluation tool that will expose any weak link in the execution of this important economic initiative by the company.
Given the various projects the company has engaged itself into, any economic pundit worth his salt, will easily detect the high level of seriousness within the company management.
This high commitment to duty has been a slap in the face for the usual high pitched critics who have accused Green Fuel of taking over ARDA farm but forgetting to empower the people who live in the surrounding areas of the plant.
The benefits of ethanol production in Zimbabwe extend much further than the obvious facet of job creation and fuel security. Depending on ethanol sales, a budget has been set aside each month for the community development and the benefits are becoming increasingly evident.
Some of the more significant benefits of ethanol production can be seen in the community in Chisumbanje, Middle Sabi and the surrounding villages.
A work-suit manufacturing unit has been set up by Green Fuel in Chisumbanje and is being run on a pioneer principle by beneficiaries from the community who underwent an intensive selection and training program.
Also a technology centre and library has been built in Takwirira, in partnership with Old Mutual, to cater specifically for students in their last year of school.
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