Sudan ready for biofuels

The Sudanese government has unveiled the country’s first biofuel plant, joining other African countries like Egypt in the fight against global warming.

The plant located about 250 kilometres from the capital city, Khartoum, aims to produce 200 million litres of ethanol from sugar cane within the next two years.

Reports said the second project, worth US$150 million, will carry out research into the production of ethanol from rice straw. “Such cellulosic ethanol fuel produced using non-food plant sources, including agricultural waste such as the stalks and leaves of crops can also reduce the polluting practice of burning agricultural waste,” the report said.

A researcher at the Sudan-based Agricultural Research Corporation, Eltayeb Mohamed Abdelgadir said in Egypt, burning agricultural waste such as rice straw has produced thick smoke across the country, causing record levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Mr Abdelgadir said the biofuels projects are a good example of South–South cooperation which will lead to the transfer of technology and knowledge between developing countries, the development of scientific human resources and promote knowledge-based economic development.

“Sudan is well-suited for biofuel production because of its vast, uncultivated land and low agricultural and labour costs which will provide new income for farmers and an alternative source of energy for Africa,” Mr Abdelgadir added.

~ by werievents on June 29, 2009.