Sunbird Bioenergy to open bioethanol plant in Zimbabwe

UK-based Sunbird Bioenergy has entered into an agreement with the Republic of Zimbabwe to develop a 120 million litre cassava-to-bioethanol plant in the country.   

Announcing the agreement on Friday, biorefineries builder China New Energy (CNE) said it expected to shortly sign a memorandum of understanding with Sunbird, with which it is partnering on projects in Africa.

Under the plans, CNE will design the plant and supply the key fermentation, distillation, and dehydration technology.

It will also commission the facility and provide ongoing support and maintenance services.

The plant, to be located in Zimbabwe's Machonaland Central province, will use CNE's proprietary cassava-to-ethanol technology.

The partners target completing the design of the project by February 2016.

Financial close is expected in the first quarter of 2016 and commissioning in late 2017.

The British ambassador to Zimbabwe noted that the signing of the deal was a follow-up of the UK-led trade delegation that visited Zimbabwe in February 2015.  

According to local media, the project is worth $150 million (€132 million), with $60 million to be spent on the plant and $90 million to be invested in an agriculture development programme.