Uganda to get a biofuel plant

A local investor is planning to set up a plant which will use foodstuff like maize, cassava and sugarcane to manufacture oil and gel for lighting and cooking respectively.

The investor, who currently imports the biofuels (synthetic oil and gel) from their South African-based parent company Liquifier Pty Limited, hopes to set up the plant in east and western Uganda, by the end of June next year.

According to the General Manager of Liquifier Uganda limited, Mr Michael Musoke, the plan is to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere through reduced deforestation and consequent charcoal burning.

"Plans are underway to set up a local manufacturing (biofuel manufacturing) plant in Uganda. It will be the only Gel manufacturing plant in Uganda, the East and Central African region,"Musoke told Sunday Monitor.

"There is a lot of garden surplus in Uganda, which we shall use," Musoke adds, to justify where the feedstock (crops to be used to produce the fuels) will come. He says since their operations will depend mainly on farm produce "we shall also support the farming sector by offering them more seeds to plant, provide farm inputs and provide the necessary advisory services".