Angola mandate targets foreign biofuels producers
In Angola, Africa, the production of biofuels will now be regulated with a new law approved by the national parliament that requires foreign biofuels producers to sell a share of their fuel to state oil company Sonangol to meet local needs.
It is hoped that the law will contribute towards helping Angola become less reliant on fossil fuels as ethanol produced by the project can be used as vehicle fuel.
In 2009 Sonangol, Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and private Angolan group Damer undertook the country’s first ever biofuels project in Malange and began planting sugarcane in a 30,000 hectare location.
Oil minster Botelho de Vasconcelos explained that a number of foreign companies had expressed interest in investing in sugar and ethanol production in the nation and rubbished claims that the land used to grow biofuel crops would replace small-scale famers. He said: ‘This new law will help us attract foreign investment. This is a historical step for Angola. We need to diversify our sources of energy.’
It is hoped that the law will contribute towards helping Angola become less reliant on fossil fuels as ethanol produced by the project can be used as vehicle fuel.
In 2009 Sonangol, Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and private Angolan group Damer undertook the country’s first ever biofuels project in Malange and began planting sugarcane in a 30,000 hectare location.
Oil minster Botelho de Vasconcelos explained that a number of foreign companies had expressed interest in investing in sugar and ethanol production in the nation and rubbished claims that the land used to grow biofuel crops would replace small-scale famers. He said: ‘This new law will help us attract foreign investment. This is a historical step for Angola. We need to diversify our sources of energy.’
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