LEVINA KATO, 28th November 2009 @ 21:17, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 324
THE envisaged multi-billion ethanol production investments in Bagamoyo and Rufiji districts will now be integrated with sugar production, the 'Sunday News' can confirm.
Ethanol fuel is a gasoline alternative that is manufactured from the conversion of carbon based feed stocks such as sugar cane, sugar beets, switch grass, corn, and barley. It is an alternative from petroleum based fuels and it is said to be better for the environment.
After striving for almost two years, in bid to develop the agro-energy projects in the country amid strong criticism by local and international experts, Sekab BioEnergy Tanzania Limited intends to set up a flex factory to offset local sugar shortage.
The company's Managing Director, Mr Anders Bergfors, said during an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam on Friday that the new component of their project would see an addition of some 56,000 tonnes supplemented to total country's sugar estates capacity.
There are four main sugar companies in Tanzania: Mtibwa, Kagera, Kilombero and the Moshi-based TPC. The four have a total production capacity of 300,000 tonnes annually. The country also has smaller factories like Manyara, which produces 2,000 tonnes annually.
However, the country is facing a sugar deficit of about 50,000 tonnes, according to statistics from the Sugar Board of Tanzania.
"Our planned Greenfield sugar production is in response to the government's request to Sekab to offset sugar deficit," Mr Bergfors said.
Apart from sugar shortage, the company's chief believes that their new project plan would smoothen the change from ethanol and sugar production, based on market price trends.
"Agro energy is still new in Africa and Tanzania in particular. We intend to mitigate some commercial risks which might arise as a result of price fluctuation. Flex factories have worked well in Brazil," he said.
The investment in sugar production, he said, would run parallel with ethanol production which has been delayed for a year due to financial constraints.
"The aim is to start work in June next year. We are looking for partners in developing the company as well as the project," he said.
Negotiations on partnership are at different levels and a Mauritius-based company, has been identified. Mr Bergfors however, declined to mention the name of the company.
Due to pending negotiations on partnership and financing, he said the company expects to deliver its first ethanol and sugar products in 2012.
Mr Bergfors also revealed that efforts to borrow from local banks in order to finance the company's operations in Tanzania had hit a snag due to high interest rates.
He said the company was working out possibilities to borrow from International institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Sekab BioEnergy project plans suffered a big blow following the withdrawal of its majority owners, namely the three municipalities in Northern Sweden with 70 per cent share holding, and the global financial crunch.
"We are glad, that minority shareholders -- Eco Development in Europe have interest and will take forward investment ventures in Africa from SEKAB International," the MD said.
In July this year, Sekab applied to the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), for a Credit Enhancement Guarantee to secure funds from local banks.
However, the application bounced due to what the Swedish Embassy's First Secretary, who is also the Programme officer for Energy, Mr Goran Haag described as failure to meet requirements in the regulations for the SIDA credit instrument.
"The Project development costs are not eligible and procurement of services and goods shall be performed in international competition," Mr Haag had revealed, explaining why his office could not award the Credit Enhancement Guarantee to SEKAB.
He said SIDA was only allowed to issue a credit guarantee to a project that is developed and ready for implementation and where services and equipment will be procured in international competition.
"What SEKAB applied for was a credit guarantee that would be used to facilitate commercial loans for financing of continued project development activities," he said.
The Government of Sweden had cautioned and recommended that renewable fuels like ethanol and bio diesel be produced in a sustainable way by professional and responsible companies like SEKAB international.
Meanwhile, the Government of Tanzania has expressed full commitment to support Sekab Bio Energy Tanzania Limited investments in Bagamoyo and Rufiji districts.
The Commissioner for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Mr Bashir Mrindoko, said the Government is interested in investing in Sekab projects because of bio fuels potentials to the country.
Sekab is a consortium of BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation (BAFF) of Sweden, Svensk EthanolKemi AB (SEKAB) of Sweden and Community Finance Company Ltd (CFC) of Tanzania.
30 November 2009
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK TO BE EXPANDED
Tanzania is a country we numerous tourist attraction, more land is devoted to protected areas for tourism and conservation purposes which is a good thing but the respective institutions shuld not forget the reforms to benefit local communities
MARC NKWAME, Babati, 29th November 2009 @ 12:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 270
THE emerald and alexandrite mines found at Mayoka village in Babati District, will soon be closed to pave way for the expansion of Lake Manyara National Park.
The Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loibooke, said an official directive from the State House has ordered the mining operations to be halted and miners vacate the precinct, because conservation and mining can never go in sync.
Mr Emmanuel Penko, the spokesperson for other artisan miners at the quarry, said the decision would hurt them because they were in the process of applying for loans to buy better equipment for their operations.
The miners claim that they were never told of the expansion that is why they were still mining; adding that most had valid mining licences which were expired in 2014.
Members of the Parliamentary, Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee who visited the mines, told the miners that the decision to expand the park was taken by the national assembly in November, last year and appeared in the Government gazette number 105 of May, this year.
The committee led by its deputy chairperson, Ms Estherina Kilasi, resolved that the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), should discuss the matter with the miners in order to resolve the issue.
"You must meet and see if there is a possibility of compensation to the affected people, because there is no ultimatum for the quarry owners other
than to vacate the area," Ms Kilasi stated.
The proposed expansion will see Lake Manyara National Park area doubled from the current 330 square kilometres to around 650 square kilometres annexing the emerald and alexendrite mines, the Marang' forest and farms number 1, 2 and 3 in Maji-Moto location and thus, giving the park authority total control of Lake Manyara.
Previously, only half of the lake basin was under conservation. However, according to Ms Loibooke, the corresponding Mayoka village will not be affected by the expansion.
Lake Manyara is the only place in the world where tree climbing lions can be sited. It handles an average of 160,000 tourists every year.
The park lying within the Rift Valley in the endless Maasai Steppes, is home to large buffalo, wildebeest and Zebra herds as well as giraffes, Manyara's legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants.
It is also an eco-system of banded mongoose, diminutive kirk's dik-dik forages.
Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania's birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day.
Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants
and storks.
MARC NKWAME, Babati, 29th November 2009 @ 12:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 270
THE emerald and alexandrite mines found at Mayoka village in Babati District, will soon be closed to pave way for the expansion of Lake Manyara National Park.
The Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loibooke, said an official directive from the State House has ordered the mining operations to be halted and miners vacate the precinct, because conservation and mining can never go in sync.
Mr Emmanuel Penko, the spokesperson for other artisan miners at the quarry, said the decision would hurt them because they were in the process of applying for loans to buy better equipment for their operations.
The miners claim that they were never told of the expansion that is why they were still mining; adding that most had valid mining licences which were expired in 2014.
Members of the Parliamentary, Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee who visited the mines, told the miners that the decision to expand the park was taken by the national assembly in November, last year and appeared in the Government gazette number 105 of May, this year.
The committee led by its deputy chairperson, Ms Estherina Kilasi, resolved that the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), should discuss the matter with the miners in order to resolve the issue.
"You must meet and see if there is a possibility of compensation to the affected people, because there is no ultimatum for the quarry owners other
than to vacate the area," Ms Kilasi stated.
The proposed expansion will see Lake Manyara National Park area doubled from the current 330 square kilometres to around 650 square kilometres annexing the emerald and alexendrite mines, the Marang' forest and farms number 1, 2 and 3 in Maji-Moto location and thus, giving the park authority total control of Lake Manyara.
Previously, only half of the lake basin was under conservation. However, according to Ms Loibooke, the corresponding Mayoka village will not be affected by the expansion.
Lake Manyara is the only place in the world where tree climbing lions can be sited. It handles an average of 160,000 tourists every year.
The park lying within the Rift Valley in the endless Maasai Steppes, is home to large buffalo, wildebeest and Zebra herds as well as giraffes, Manyara's legendary tree-climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants.
It is also an eco-system of banded mongoose, diminutive kirk's dik-dik forages.
Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania's birdlife. More than 400 species have been recorded and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day.
Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants
and storks.
14 November 2009
AVALANCHE CAUSED BY HEAVY RAINFALL KILLED 20 IN SAME
It is predictade heavy rainfall to many parts of the country this year and it has already been reported heavy rainfalls to some parts of the country, tanzanians should be awere and be prepared.
FROM THIS DAY NOVEMBER 13, 2009
AT least 20 people were killed in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region on Wednesday night after rocks and boulders loosened by heavy rains buried several houses in two villages.
Seven other people have been reported missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise from the flash floods and mudslides in Kambeni and Goha Villages, Myamba Ward in the district.
Scores of locals were yesterday digging alongside police through mud, rock and debris in the affected areas, looking for missing persons and trying to recover more bodies.
The flash floods hit the two villages before dawn yesterday, while most locals were still in bed.
The Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lucas Ng�hoboko, said at least seven children were among the dead.
He named the deceased victims so far identified as Neema Shambi (70), Napenda Bakari (7), Namsemba Bakari (11), Sikuzani Elitaabu (20), Nath John (12), Haika Charles (3), Mariam Juma (4), Wemael Mhina (30), Ruth Mhina (6), Neema Bakari (8), and Christina Kiondo (32).
Others were Elitabu Shambi (30), Shambi Elineema (11), Ndimangwa Elineema (5), Amani Mhina (9), Kiondo Amani (37), Imani Kiondo (9) and Nikundiwe Kiondo (5).
It is understood that those who died were trapped inside houses that were swallowed by mud and boulders swept down from the mountains by the heavy rains.
Some of the still-missing villagers have been identified as Rafiki Elineema, Bakari Shambi, Amina Bakari, and Navuri Bakari.
Ng�hoboko said a police squad from the neighbouring Tanga Region is helping with the ongoing rescue efforts in the devastated area.
Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Ms Monica Mbega was also present with other government officials at the scene of the disaster yesterday.
One villager, Mhina Aman, said he had lost his entire family in the flash floods, comprising his wife and two children.
Mhina said his brother, his brother’s wife, and two of their children were also missing.
Authorities said they would issue a formal statement today on the exact death toll and damage caused by the mudslides.
It could not be immediately confirmed if the flash floods were caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Weather experts have already warned that the country will be hit by heavy El Nino rains towards the end of this year.
Meteorologists say the expected heavy rainfall is likely to cause serious damage to infrastructure and worsen the food situation.
It is predicted that Dar es Salaam, Coast, Tanga, Lindi, Mwanza, Kagera and Mara regions - plus parts of Kigoma Region - will experience particularly heavy rainfall.
FROM THIS DAY NOVEMBER 13, 2009
AT least 20 people were killed in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region on Wednesday night after rocks and boulders loosened by heavy rains buried several houses in two villages.
Seven other people have been reported missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise from the flash floods and mudslides in Kambeni and Goha Villages, Myamba Ward in the district.
Scores of locals were yesterday digging alongside police through mud, rock and debris in the affected areas, looking for missing persons and trying to recover more bodies.
The flash floods hit the two villages before dawn yesterday, while most locals were still in bed.
The Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lucas Ng�hoboko, said at least seven children were among the dead.
He named the deceased victims so far identified as Neema Shambi (70), Napenda Bakari (7), Namsemba Bakari (11), Sikuzani Elitaabu (20), Nath John (12), Haika Charles (3), Mariam Juma (4), Wemael Mhina (30), Ruth Mhina (6), Neema Bakari (8), and Christina Kiondo (32).
Others were Elitabu Shambi (30), Shambi Elineema (11), Ndimangwa Elineema (5), Amani Mhina (9), Kiondo Amani (37), Imani Kiondo (9) and Nikundiwe Kiondo (5).
It is understood that those who died were trapped inside houses that were swallowed by mud and boulders swept down from the mountains by the heavy rains.
Some of the still-missing villagers have been identified as Rafiki Elineema, Bakari Shambi, Amina Bakari, and Navuri Bakari.
Ng�hoboko said a police squad from the neighbouring Tanga Region is helping with the ongoing rescue efforts in the devastated area.
Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Ms Monica Mbega was also present with other government officials at the scene of the disaster yesterday.
One villager, Mhina Aman, said he had lost his entire family in the flash floods, comprising his wife and two children.
Mhina said his brother, his brother’s wife, and two of their children were also missing.
Authorities said they would issue a formal statement today on the exact death toll and damage caused by the mudslides.
It could not be immediately confirmed if the flash floods were caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Weather experts have already warned that the country will be hit by heavy El Nino rains towards the end of this year.
Meteorologists say the expected heavy rainfall is likely to cause serious damage to infrastructure and worsen the food situation.
It is predicted that Dar es Salaam, Coast, Tanga, Lindi, Mwanza, Kagera and Mara regions - plus parts of Kigoma Region - will experience particularly heavy rainfall.
AFRICAN COUNTRIES SHOWS A STAND TOWARDS UN CLIMATE TALKS
Environmental problems have no boundaries, the impacts of enviromental degradation is shared almost all countrie as we are down the road towards global warming African countries have decided to do something of environmental concern...
John Vidal in Barcelona guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 November 2009 23.26
In a dramatic day in Barcelona, UN officials were forced to step in after 55 African countries, in an unprecedented show of unity, called for a suspension of all further negotiations on the Kyoto protocol until substantial progress was made by rich countries on emission cuts.
Earlier, the UN chair had been forced to abandon two working groups after the Africa group refused to take part.
The African countries were supported by all other developing country blocks at the talks. In a series of statements, the G77 plus China group of 130 nations, the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, as well as Bolivia and several Latin America countries, all broadly backed the African action.
The move by developing countries reflects their deep and growing frustration over the slow progress that industrialised countries are making towards agreeing cuts. With less than three days full negotiating time left between now and the opening of the final talks at Copenhagen, the split between rich and poor countries threatens to blow the talks fatally off course.
Bruno Sekoli, chair of the LDC group, said: "Africa and Africans are dying now while those who are historically responsible are not taking actions."
Algeria, which chairs the Africa group, backed by representatives from Gambia and Kenya, said rich countries were "more concerned with political and economic feasibility" while the poorest were "struggling to survive" with climate change.
In a press conference, the poorest countries demanded that the rich adopt the science-backed target of a 40% overall cut on emissions on 1990 levels. So far, rich countries have pledged an aggregate of less than 10%. The US, the world's second biggest polluter, has pledged to cut around 4% on 1990 levels, or 17% on 2005 levels.
In some of the most frantic diplomacy seen in the talks so far, delegates to hurriedly agreed to dedicate six of the 10 remaining negotiating sessions to discussions on mid-term emissions reductions. The decision received widespread support from all developing countries who stressed the importance of delivering real progress.
"African countries have shown they are not going to sit back and accept a bad deal in Copenhagen," said a spokeswomen for Oxfam international.
"The poorest countries say they are dying now and the rich are just sitting back doing nothing. Hopefully they will take action now," said Asad Rehman, head of international climate with Friends of the Earth.
John Vidal in Barcelona guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 November 2009 23.26
In a dramatic day in Barcelona, UN officials were forced to step in after 55 African countries, in an unprecedented show of unity, called for a suspension of all further negotiations on the Kyoto protocol until substantial progress was made by rich countries on emission cuts.
Earlier, the UN chair had been forced to abandon two working groups after the Africa group refused to take part.
The African countries were supported by all other developing country blocks at the talks. In a series of statements, the G77 plus China group of 130 nations, the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, as well as Bolivia and several Latin America countries, all broadly backed the African action.
The move by developing countries reflects their deep and growing frustration over the slow progress that industrialised countries are making towards agreeing cuts. With less than three days full negotiating time left between now and the opening of the final talks at Copenhagen, the split between rich and poor countries threatens to blow the talks fatally off course.
Bruno Sekoli, chair of the LDC group, said: "Africa and Africans are dying now while those who are historically responsible are not taking actions."
Algeria, which chairs the Africa group, backed by representatives from Gambia and Kenya, said rich countries were "more concerned with political and economic feasibility" while the poorest were "struggling to survive" with climate change.
In a press conference, the poorest countries demanded that the rich adopt the science-backed target of a 40% overall cut on emissions on 1990 levels. So far, rich countries have pledged an aggregate of less than 10%. The US, the world's second biggest polluter, has pledged to cut around 4% on 1990 levels, or 17% on 2005 levels.
In some of the most frantic diplomacy seen in the talks so far, delegates to hurriedly agreed to dedicate six of the 10 remaining negotiating sessions to discussions on mid-term emissions reductions. The decision received widespread support from all developing countries who stressed the importance of delivering real progress.
"African countries have shown they are not going to sit back and accept a bad deal in Copenhagen," said a spokeswomen for Oxfam international.
"The poorest countries say they are dying now and the rich are just sitting back doing nothing. Hopefully they will take action now," said Asad Rehman, head of international climate with Friends of the Earth.
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