Malawi turns to ethanol as petrol prices increase
Nov 18, 2007
AS crude oil prices hit a record high, the Malawi government has launched a project to ensure that all vehicles in the country switch to the cheaper and greener alternative fuel — ethanol — in a few years. <br>
AS crude oil prices hit a record high, the Malawi government has launched a project to ensure that all vehicles in the country switch to the cheaper and greener alternative fuel — ethanol — in a few years.
Besides promoting the production of ethanol from sugar molasses, the government-funded five-year $1m project, is investigating the possibility of converting ordinary vehicles into flexible-fuel — ‘flex-fuel’ — vehicles which can run using two fuels.
“The use of ethanol is aimed at emission reduction as demanded by the [UN Framework on Climate Change],†said Kendron Chisale, Malawi’s deputy director of science and technology.
Freeman Kalirani, a researcher at the government-owned Lilongwe Technical College, led a team that modified a Mitsubishi Pajero to run on ethanol or petrol, or a combination of ethanol and petrol.
He said the research team would continue comparing the engine performance of ethanol-powered and petrol-driven vehicles.
“We will test the long-term effects of ethanol on the fuel system of vehicles and the performance of a flex vehicle and build capacity for Malawians to maintain ethanol-driven vehicles.â€
The modified vehicle completed a test drive of over 2,100km at an average speed of 110km/hr on ethanol; consumption at 8km/litre was high because of the speed and age of the car. New vehicles consume between 10km/litre and 15km/litre.
Import flex-fuel vehicles
According to Presscane Ltd, one of the two companies producing ethanol, Malawi has been using ethanol-blended fuel since the energy crisis in the 1970s. Companies such as BP Malawi, TOTAL Malawi and Chevron Malawi blend 10% ethanol with 90% petrol.
Between 1995 and 2000, the country imported about 80 to 90 million litres of petrol annually, with the cost rising from $13m to $36.1 m over the same period.
In the first half of the year, a barrel of bioethanol in Brazil was half the price of a barrel of oil, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The current price of crude oil is about $90 a barrel.
The department of science and technology and the Ethanol Company of Malawi, is also promoting the importation of Brazilian ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles that can run on ethanol.
Matthews Chikaonda, the chief executive officer of Press corporation Limited, said the country had enough molasses, a by-product of making sugar, to produce ethanol.
He said the country would save millions of dollars once all vehicles start using locally made ethanol, instead of petroleum.
“A switch to ethanol would not only benefit the environment,but also create employment opportunities in the sugarcane industry and help Malawi save forex being spent on fuel imports.â€
Though the switch from petrol to ethanol is a positive step, some consumers cautioned that further research was needed.
“It is too early to start celebrating. Let us honestly answer questions such as, “are we ready to meet the demand once we abandon imported fuels?†An honest answer would be ‘no’ at this point in time,†said Marcel Phiri, a car owner in the commercial capital of Blantyre.
Mayeso Mzunga, who transports goods, suggested the concurrent promotion of imported petroleum and locally-made ethanol until such a time when the country was ready “to fully go ethanolâ€.
Reuters
Besides promoting the production of ethanol from sugar molasses, the government-funded five-year $1m project, is investigating the possibility of converting ordinary vehicles into flexible-fuel — ‘flex-fuel’ — vehicles which can run using two fuels.
“The use of ethanol is aimed at emission reduction as demanded by the [UN Framework on Climate Change],†said Kendron Chisale, Malawi’s deputy director of science and technology.
Freeman Kalirani, a researcher at the government-owned Lilongwe Technical College, led a team that modified a Mitsubishi Pajero to run on ethanol or petrol, or a combination of ethanol and petrol.
He said the research team would continue comparing the engine performance of ethanol-powered and petrol-driven vehicles.
“We will test the long-term effects of ethanol on the fuel system of vehicles and the performance of a flex vehicle and build capacity for Malawians to maintain ethanol-driven vehicles.â€
The modified vehicle completed a test drive of over 2,100km at an average speed of 110km/hr on ethanol; consumption at 8km/litre was high because of the speed and age of the car. New vehicles consume between 10km/litre and 15km/litre.
Import flex-fuel vehicles
According to Presscane Ltd, one of the two companies producing ethanol, Malawi has been using ethanol-blended fuel since the energy crisis in the 1970s. Companies such as BP Malawi, TOTAL Malawi and Chevron Malawi blend 10% ethanol with 90% petrol.
Between 1995 and 2000, the country imported about 80 to 90 million litres of petrol annually, with the cost rising from $13m to $36.1 m over the same period.
In the first half of the year, a barrel of bioethanol in Brazil was half the price of a barrel of oil, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The current price of crude oil is about $90 a barrel.
The department of science and technology and the Ethanol Company of Malawi, is also promoting the importation of Brazilian ‘flex-fuel’ vehicles that can run on ethanol.
Matthews Chikaonda, the chief executive officer of Press corporation Limited, said the country had enough molasses, a by-product of making sugar, to produce ethanol.
He said the country would save millions of dollars once all vehicles start using locally made ethanol, instead of petroleum.
“A switch to ethanol would not only benefit the environment,but also create employment opportunities in the sugarcane industry and help Malawi save forex being spent on fuel imports.â€
Though the switch from petrol to ethanol is a positive step, some consumers cautioned that further research was needed.
“It is too early to start celebrating. Let us honestly answer questions such as, “are we ready to meet the demand once we abandon imported fuels?†An honest answer would be ‘no’ at this point in time,†said Marcel Phiri, a car owner in the commercial capital of Blantyre.
Mayeso Mzunga, who transports goods, suggested the concurrent promotion of imported petroleum and locally-made ethanol until such a time when the country was ready “to fully go ethanolâ€.
Reuters