By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

THE promotion of renewable energies will increase market for agriculture products in the country, a bio-fuels expert has said.
Oracle Bio-fuels managing director Emmanuel Mbita said the Government was in the process of developing the feed-in-tariff policy to promote the utilisation of renewable energy resources in the country.
Mr Mbita said appealed to the Government to expedite the implementation of renewable energy policies to encourage crop diversification as most of the crop would be inputs in the renewable industries.
“The fully fledged energy renewable sector will create viable local market for agriculture products hence promoting diversification of the agriculture sector,” he said.
Mr Mbita said industrial players were geared to start the production of renewable energy sources once the renewable energy policy was approved.
“We are ready to start production once Cabinet approves the new policy on fuel blending,” he said.
Stakeholders had since been calling for the introduction mandatory blending to create predictable market for bio-fuels in the country.
Bio-fuels Association of Zambia (BAZ) chairperson Thomson Sinkala called for the need to come up with a mandatory blending policy to create predictable market and make management of the industry easier and affordable.
“To encourage the use of bio-fuels in the country there is need for the Government to come up with regulation or policies that can attract more investors and the consumption of bio-fuels,” Professor Sinkala said.