BAZ sets up Ethanol distillery plant

THE Bio-fuel Association of Zambia (BAZ), has invested US$1 million in the construction of an ethanol distillery factory in Lusaka, chairman Thomson Sinkala has announced.

Professor Sinkala said they have completed ethanol production tests using a nano distillery at the factory which will is being constructed in Kabangwe.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Prof Sinkala said construction of the micro distillery at the project site is expected to be completed before the end of this month.

“We have commenced the construction of the factory and we hope to complete works before the end of January,” he said.

He also said the construction of the micro distillery had commenced and that tests where already done on the machines to be installed.

Prof Sinkala explained that the projected cost of the project plus infrastructure is about US$1 million per micro distillery, and there will be several micro distilleries.

“Our first plant is at 6-Miles at Kabangwe just outside Lusaka and the plant comes with benefits for the local people which includes jobs for Zambians, energy, security and economic empowerment of Zambians,” Prof Sinkala said.

Prof Sinkala noted that among benefits to the rural community and the nation will include economic development, and the growth of the industrialisation sector in the country.

He said the plant will create 626 direct and indirect jobs for every 1 million litres of ethanol produced.

Prof Sinkala however said due to the micro distilling factory they have only managed about 0.3 Hectares of Moringa powder leaf plantation and about 0.5 hectare of Moringa seed plantation.

Prof Sinkala added that for the same reason, they have not done outward marketing other than selling to business networks and their extensions in the moringa value chain.

Prof Sinkala stated that there is a lot of potential for Moringa to save lives and increase Zambia’s health span and life span of the people.