Energy

• Cane fields in Limpopo are set to produce 100 million litres of ethanol

The need for the development of biofuels as an alternative to fossil-burning fuels is becoming obvious, even in a province like Limpopo where coal reserves are plentiful. The sector has the potential to increase efficiency and employment in agriculture and industry and reduce unhealthy and polluting gas emissions. Bioethanol, biodiesel and methane gas from waste and renewable resources are among the types of biofuels being investigated.

A new set of national-government guidelines has seen the emphasis in this nascent industry shift towards finding fuel stock from crops that are less likely to affect food security – like sugar cane, sugar beet, canola and sunflower seeds. Limpopo is well placed to exploit these crops.

The Mapfura Makhura Incubator company (MMI) is one of the most exciting initiatives in Limpopo. With representatives and support from the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, the CSIR, Seda, the Agricultural Research Council and the University of Limpopo, among others, MMI aims to promote small, medium and micro enterprises while simultaneously igniting the biofuels industry.

Farmers are trained in harvesting and crop management before the produce is investigated for by-product beneficiation and then taken to
market. In 2009, the MMI helped get 35 new small enterprises on their feet. Sunflower seeds have proved to be a very popular crop but the company wants to see development down the value-chain to encompass activities such as fertiliser, seed production and feed manufacture.

Near the eastern Lowveld town of Hoedspruit, plans are under way to produce bioethanol from irrigated lands. This is in terms of a scheme supported by the Industrial Development Corporation and the Energy Development Corporation division of the Central Energy Fund. Some 10 000 hectares of sugar cane are expected to produce 100 million litres of ethanol.

The cost of the project will be approximately R1.4-billion per annum and the anticipated date for production to start is 2014. Sugar cane can be harvested for up to six years from the same site.

A number of other innovative projects are showing that energy can be obtained from diverse sources.

Pigs: Cargill is converting the methane gas produced by pigs’ effluent into electricity at a piggery near Bela-Bela.

Sawdust: CDM Africa is advising WSP BioTherm and the owner of the Letaba Citrus farm on the use of biomass sawdust as fuel for its boilers.
This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the amount of methane escaping through the stock-piling of sawdust.

ONLINE RESOURCES
African Biofuels: www.africanbiofuels.co.za
CDM Africa Climate Solutions: www.cdmafrica.com
Mapfura Makhura Incubator: www.biodieselmmi.co.za
Southern African Biofuels Association: www.saba.za.org
Sustainable Energy Africa: www.sustainable.org.za

















(C) 2007 Limpopo Business | TradeInvestSA

Limpopo Business is published by Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd
Company registration: 2004/004982/07
Directors: C During; SS Mabotja; CJ Whales; RSJ Pembroke

Copyright
The copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this publication are and remain vested in, or are licensed to, Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd

Disclaimer
Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd (GAN), its employees, directors and agents are not responsible for any losses or damages (including any consequential, indirect or special damages) which you might suffer arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use, GAN's publications or websites. While GAN uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in this publication, GAN makes no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, availability or completeness of the information, software, products or other materials available in this publication. Use of this publication is at your own risk. GAN will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or any reliance placed on such information.