By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
SUNBIRD Bioenergy Investment is set to start works on its ethanol project which is expected to be commissioned by President Edgar Lungu today.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali said Mr Lungu was expected to officiate at the groundbreaking ceremony for cassava plantation by the investor.
Sunbird Bioenergy Africa is set to invest US$150 million in the production of ethanol in the Luena Farm Bloc in Kawambwa District of Luapula Province.
Mr Chimbwali said this in an interview from Mansa on Monday.
He said this meant that the investor would move on site and commence recruitment of the outgrower farmers.
“I would like to confirm that President Lungu is on Wednesday expected to officiate at a groundbreaking ceremony for cassava stem plantation by Sunbird Bioenergy in the Luena Farm Bloc,” Mr Chimbwali said.
It is expected that the factory would create over 600 direct jobs, with 20,000 small-scale farmers targeted under the outgrower scheme.
Upon commencement of production, the factory would be producing 120 million litres of ethanol per year.
Mr Chimbwali said the project would not just create jobs for Luapula but would impact on the cost of fuel in the country as it would be blended.
“We are also likely to see other activities that will come up once the Sunbird project is operational,” Mr Chimbwali said.
