Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, was scheduled to meet with local biofuels innovator De Beers Fuels to discuss the company's progress in establishing a facility that could produce as much as 24-billion litres of biodiesel yearly, within five years, the company said on Monday.

At present, the country consumes about 8,1-billion litres a year.

Chairperson Frik de Beer recently built his own biodiesel plant in Naboomspruit and, subsequently, sold 90 plants to franchisees, at a cost of some R6-million each.

The company has begun working with US-based firm GreenFuel Technologies Corporation, which had developed technology that used algae and carbon-dioxide to produce the oil used to manufacture biofuels.

De Beers Fuels had bought licenses for 100 000 acres to be developed into algae farms - and in five years the intention was to increase this land area to 800 000 acres, constituting 0,3% of South Africa's total land area, the company said.

De Beers Fuels also collaborated with another US company Green Star Products, which produced high pressure biodiesel reactors, significantly improving biodiesel-production efficiency.

De Beers Fuels signed a contract with Green Star for the US firm to build 90 high-pressure biodiesel reactors for its South African plants.

“We are extremely pleased that our technology will be introduced into South Africa by such visionaries as Frik de Beer, Hendy Schoonbee, and the rest of the team. We look forward to working organisation to make algal biodiesel a profitable, commercial-scale industry in South Africa,” GreenFuel Technologies Corporation said in a statement Green Star stated that it was “proud to be part of this De Beers Fuel Limited Team in South Africa,” and had already set up operations at its 90 000 square foot. Idaho Facility to fabricate as many as 150 reactors a year to accommodate anticipated expansion of De Beers plant facilities into other countries, which had already shown significant interest in the franchising business strategy.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.