Name and Location
Chisumbanje ethanol project, Chipinge, Zimbabwe.

Project Description
The project entails construction of an ethanol production facility, in the Chisumbanje area, in the south-eastern province of Manicaland. The ethanol will be produced using sugar cane grown at separate estates in Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi.

It will feature a boiler section, a mill plant, a generating plant and an ethanol distillery chamber. On completion, the plant will produce 350 000 ℓ of ethanol and 18 MW of electricity daily.

The project is part of a larger scheme to develop a number of ethanol plants to cater for 80% of the country’s ethanol needs. A total of 50 000 ha is being considered for sugar cane plantation, of which 10 000 ha will belong to local farmers.

At full capacity, the entire ethanol scheme will produce three-million litres of ethanol and 120 MW of electricity a day.

Value
The ethanol scheme will cost $600-million to complete. This amount covers the construction of the plant, roads, two dams and rural development projects.

To date, $270-million has been poured into the project.

Duration
The Chisumbanje plant is expected to be completed by March 2011.

Client
A partnership between the State-owned Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda), and three investment partners – Green Fuel Investments, Rating Investments and Macdom Investments.

Arda is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.

The project is managed on a 20-year build, operate and transfer basis, which allows the investor to develop Arda’s land and associated infrastructure over a period of time before handing it over.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Latest Developments
None.

On Budget and on Time?
The Chisumbanje project is reportedly on course for completion in March 2011.

Contact Details for Project Information
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, tel +263 4 700596/706081 or fax +263 4 734646.