Zambia to start blending biofuels

The Zambian government has announced plans to start blending biofuels with imported petroleum products, in a bid to reduce the amount and cost of importing crude oil for refining at the country’s sole oil refinery, Zambia’s Ministry of Energy and Water Development said. Zambia intends to start purchasing bioethanol and biodiesel to blend with gasoline and diesel fuel. Details of the purchases will be agreed upon by the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and biofuel producers, Teddy Kasonso, the ministry’s permanent secretary said in a statement. “The utilization of biofuels has the effect of enhancing energy security as the resources for their production are locally available within the country,” he said. Zambia will require at least 21 million liters of biodiesel and 18 million liters of bioethanol every year for blending. The blending will follow the ratio of up to 10% of bioethanol with gasoline and at least 5% of biodiesel with petroleum diesel fuel. (April 26,2011)