Bio-fuel Workshop to pave the way for job creation in the Province

As part of strengthening relationship between government and the private sector to ensure that Bio-Energy contributes towards job creation in the province, the Bio-Energy Cluster Committee held its first consultative workshop at Destiny Lodge outside Nelspruit.

The workshop was aimed at disseminating the latest information on bio-energy, especially on the recommendations of the pre-feasibility study on bio-energy about the mandatory regulations, and to update the delegates about the proposed regulations of pricing model for bio fuel.

Welcoming and outlining the purpose of the workshop, Trade and Sector Chief Director, Dr Joyce Pakade said, “Mpumalanga has an abundance of agricultural feedstock and minerals resource that could contribute towards the implementation of bio-energy.”

“The province has a number of farms that were redistributed over to communities through the land reform programme which government could take advantage of as dual strategy to assist the land reform beneficiaries as well as implementing the bio-fuel initiatives. We will also ensure that we develop a working document that will serve as an implementing plan of the cluster committee.”

“The Department will ensure that it engages local municipalities about the business opportunities on solid waste as per the recommendations of the pre-feasibility study on bio-energy, as well as applying the Brazilians model in terms of implementing bio-energy in the country that will ensure that SMME's are participating in the bio-energy initiative,” concluded Dr Pakade.

Siya Bacela, SASOL Senior Manager for Chemical and Energy Portfolio stressed that the province must take advantage of the recent memorandum of understanding signed between government and the company.

SASOL has agreed to work closely with the Department to conduct pre-feasibility study on bio-energy in the province. This will assist the province in its quest to create job opportunities’ through bio-fuel.
The workshop brought together national and provincial government departments as well as representative from various private sectors.