Tanzania cautioned on reckless biofuel projects

By CHRISTINE AFANDI
Special Correspondent

Environmentalists are warning of dire consequences should the haphazard production of biofuels in Tanzania continue.

Prof Raphael Mwalyosi, an environmentalist and sitting MP took to task the government over its rush to sanction the activity without first weighing the benefits and loss.

Prof Mwalyosi had proposed that the government halts all the biofuel projects in the country until a law is passed to govern the sector.

Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said the government was not in a position to stop the ongoing production but projects that are yet to start will be deferred as it was still preparing a national policy on biofuels.

Mr Pinda said that the ministries of Agriculture, Food and Co-operatives together with Energy and Minerals had been assigned the task of drawing up a policy and bill to regulate the biofuel sector.

Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja said the government was looking for aid from Sweden to fund the research on  biofuel products.

An Oxfam report released at the beginning of this month on biofuel production and its effects in Tanzania states that food supply to the nation could be in jeopardy with the environment endangered if the government continues to support haphazard production of biofuel.

According to Oxfam country co-ordinator Silas Olang, diverting land to biofuel production was bound to stall the government's vision to alleviate poverty.

Mr Olang said that the government does not necessarily need to halt current biofuel projects but must speed up the process of drafting a good national policy that will take into account environmental impact of biofuels, preservation of natural resources and the issue of farming for food production.

Some of the crops that are being harnessed for biofuel production in the country include coconuts, Jatropha, sugarcane, wheat, cassava and sunflower.

A total of 38 companies are engaged in biofuel production in the country with eight of them being investors who have been certified by the Tanzania Investment Centre while the rest are locally owned institutions.

Areas being used to farm biofuels include; Coast, Ruvuma, Tabora, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro, Kagera and Shinyanga.

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