(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe secures $53m from AfDB
22/01/2014 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
AFRICAN Development Bank (AfDB) on Wednesday signed deals with the government worth US$53 million expected to help revive the country’s power generation, infrastructure rehabilitation, water and sanitation.
Three of the grants are funded by the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Fund (ZimFund) worth a total of US$39,3 million while the other three are financed by AfDB totalling US$13,5 million. AfDB will be the administrators.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the grants will go a long way in meeting the requirements of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset).
The six grants cover the areas of power and infrastructure rehabilitation, US$20 million water and sanitation, US$19,8 million, governance, US$8 million, youth and tourism US$4,1 million and transport US$1,3 million.
“I am pleased with the implementation progress of ZimFund projects since their inception. Some equipment which includes transformers has also been received for the Emergency Power Rehabilitation projects. I believe the signing of three more grants will further these results,” Chinamasa told journalist at a press conference.
“These projects will increase the total commitment of the bank’s active portfolio in Zimbabwe from US$113,5 million to US$166 million expanding the range and extent of our activities in support of the recovery of Zimbabwe’s economy through capacity building and also protecting assets and lives by investment in critical infrastructure such as water and power,” he said.
Chinamasa commended the country’s development partners namely Australia,Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom who have contributed to the fund.
“I urge our development partners to scale up their contributions to the Fund and also call upon non-participating partners to come on board,” he said.
AfDB resident representative Mateus Magala said the signing of the protocols was testimony of the strong partnership between ZimFund contributing donors, government and the bank.
“These projects are aligned to ZIMASSET. They are also consistent with the bank’s group ten year strategy which aims to place the bank at the centre of Africa’s transformation. They will support the country’s recovery efforts and its quest to address the critical challenges of promoting strong and inclusive growth that promotes a prosperous and equitable society,” he said.
Zimbabwe, has since dollarization in February 2009, been failing to attract funding to improve power generation, water reticulation and improve the infrastructure.
Most companies are under-capitalised and struggling to pay their bills. The banking sector, itself in dire straits, lacks capacity to lend to businesses to buy new equipment or fund their working capital.
Labels: AfDB, ENERGY
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Swiss firm in Zim solar joint venture
29/12/2013 00:00:00
by Business Reporter ENERGY, SWITZERLAND, SOLAR
LOCAL firm Oxygen Africa and Swiss-based Meeco Invest AG have announced a partnership deal to bring solar power boost to the country’s struggling energy sector.
Zimbabwe has been reeling under a decade-long power crisis that has seen supplies being rationed to both domestic and commercial users, hitting efforts to fire an economy battling to recover from a crippling recession.
The new joint-venture company, Oursun Energy, is fronted locally by top Harare lawyer Honour Mkushi, and Simbarashe Mhuriro will seek to develop new solar business in the country.
The new company will use the Meeco Group’s already established products to assist farmers in a country whose economy is agro-anchored.
“Oursun Energy will focus on supporting the agriculture, manufacturing, mining, telecom, and tourism industries with its world-class turnkey solutions provided by The Meeco Group for rural areas or telecommunication companies,” Oursun said in a statement.
“The core activities of Oursun Energy will be the construction of solar energy production facilities and the development of public-private partnership structures to build solar farms ranging from 10Mw to 100Mw,” Oursun said.
The company added: “Oxygen Africa will support the Joint Venture with its well-established network in the Zimbabwean industry as well as its good contacts to neighbouring countries whereas The Meeco Group will bring it its huge experience in the development and realization of renewable energy projects”.
Zimbabwe’s geographical situation is ideal for the implementation of solar energy and related applications such as energy storage, lighting or water pumping due to its level of radiation, one of the highest worldwide the group said.
“To partner with the Oxygen Group is a great opportunity for us to develop the production of solar energy in Zimbabwe, especially in off-grid regions. Both teams will work phenomenally together and we look forward to playing our part in driving renewable energy in Zimbabwe,” Mhuriro told New Zimbabwe.com.
Zimbabwe’s power deficit could benefit immensely from the harnessing of abundant solar energy to drive the country’s struggling industry.
Labels: ENERGY, SOLAR ENERGY, SWITZERLAND
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(HERALD ZW) No plans to unbundle Zesa: Mavhaire
October 25, 2013
Herald Reporter
Government has no intention to dismantle Zesa and place the power utility in private hands as envisaged by the Electricity Amendment Act passed by Parliament during the subsistence of the inclusive Government this year, a Cabinet Minister has said. The Act has since been declared a legal nullity.
Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire said contrary to the Electricity Amendment Act, that sought to unbundle Zesa, his ministry would not allow that to happen as that was not consistent with Government policy and the Zanu-PF manifesto.
“The position is that I have no intention of dismantling Zesa,” said Minister Mavhaire last night.
“There is no way I can put Zesa in private hands.
“The only set up where we will allow private players is under the arrangement of Independent Power Producers that we have licensed.”
Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma has since written to the Registrar of the High Court and the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet demanding the return of Electricity Amendment Act 2013, which sought to unbundle Zesa Holdings into an indeterminate number of privately-owned successor companies.
The planned unbundling and privatisation — which was reportedly being orchestrated by some officials at the Energy and Power Development Ministry in cahoots with former minister Mr Elton Mangoma — would have effectively put the critical power sector into the hands of unknown Western investors picked at Mr Mangoma’s discretion.
Minister Mavhaire last night, described the Act as “null and void.”
He said if firms would be formed under the unbundling of Zesa, Government would have 100 percent stake.
Sources close to developments say everything was being done without the knowledge of Minister Mavhaire, amid reports that officers at Zesa were already working on logos for the new companies, again without the knowledge of the minister.
The Amendment Act was hurried through Parliament by MDC-T legislators, who took advantage of the fact that their Zanu-PF counterparts were holed in their constituencies for the party’s primary elections.
The Bill was passed before being sent for Presidential assent, which was, however, granted after the mandatory 21 days had lapsed, making the resultant Act a legal nullity.
Section 51 of the old Constitution, which was still operational ahead of the effective date of the new Constitution, stated that:
1) Subject to the provisions of section 52 and Schedule 4, the power of Parliament to make laws shall be exercised by Bills passed by the House of Assembly and the Senate and assented to by the President.
(2) When a Bill is presented to the President for assent he shall, subject to the provisions of this section, within twenty-one, days, either assent or withhold his assent.
The Electricity Amendment (No.5 of 2013) Act sought to repeal Section 68 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) which was to be replaced with a new Section 68 Formation of Successor Companies which stipulates that:
(1) The Minister shall, not later than six months after the fixed date, take such steps as are necessary under the Companies Act (Chapter 24:03) to secure the formation of one or more of the following companies limited by shares, which shall be the successor company or successor companies to the Authority –
(a) a company to take over the electricity generation plants of the Authority;
(b) a company to take over the transmission system of the Authority;
(c) a company to take over from the Authority the distribution and supply of electricity;
(d) such other companies as the Minister may approve.
The proviso, “such other companies as the Minister may approve’’ was a clear blank cheque to Mr Mangoma and crew to do what they wanted with a key state enterprise.
Apart from the personal profit motive, sources say there was also a clear political motive to destroy Zesa or put it beyond the influence of Government which would then have been at the mercy of the private investors linked to the MDC-T.
This would have left the succeeding Zanu-PF Government at the mercy of the investors who would have used power for political leverage as power has been identified as a key enabler of Government’s new economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).
In pursuit of unconstitutional regime change, MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is on record asking South Africa to cut off Zimbabwe’s fuel and power supply.
Labels: DZIKAMAI MAVHAIRE, ELTON MANGOMA, ENERGY, MDC, MDC CORRUPTION, NEOLIBERALISM, PRIVATISATION, ZESA
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Mangoma furious at ZESA sell-off allegations
26/10/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
FORMER energy minister Elton Mangoma has threatened to sue a state-run newspaper after it accused him of trying to sell-off the power utility ZESA to western investors linked to his MDC-T party.
Mangoma’s lawyers, this week, demanded that the Herald retract its report and issue an unreserved apology or face a claim for defamation at the High Court.
The newspaper accused the MDC-T treasury chief of trying to unbundle and privatise Zesa which has perennially failed to meet the country’s electricity requirements.
“Apart from the personal profit motive, sources say there was also a clear political motive to destroy Zesa or put it beyond the influence of Government which would then have been at the mercy of the private investors linked to the MDC-T, ” read party of the report which has infuriated the senior MDC-T official.
Mangoma however said the report was full of “sensational, untrue and highly defamatory comments”.
“These comments seem designed to damage the reputation of our client in the public eye and create public opprobrium towards said client,” said the former minister through his lawyers, Mupanga Bhatasara Attorneys.
“The story gives an impression of a clumsy hatchet job on the character of an outstanding public servant who is on record for having solved the perennial fuel crisis and had gone on to work tirelessly day and night (emphasis deliberate) to lessen the electricity shortages,? the letter reads.”
New energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has since ruled out privatisation of the power utility.
“The position is that I have no intention of dismantling Zesa. There is no way I can put Zesa in private hands,” Mavhaire told the Herald.
“The only set up where we will allow private players is under the arrangement of Independent Power Producers that we have licensed.”
Unable to produce enough power to meet the country’s needs or raise the cash needed to plug the generation gap through imports, ZESA has resorted to rationing supplies to both domestic and commercial users for years.
Productive sectors such as mining and industry blame say power supply problems have undermined efforts to operate at optimal capacity, adversely impact efforts to ensure sustained economic recovery.
Labels: DZIKAMAI MAVHAIRE, ELTON MANGOMA, ENERGY, MDC, MDC CORRUPTION, NEOLIBERALISM, PRIVATISATION, ZESA
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(HERALD ZW) Scramble for Zim ethanol
October 19, 2013 silence muchemwa Headlines, Top Stories
Takunda Maodza recently in CHISUMBANJE—-
President Mugabe welcomes Tanzanian People’s Defence Forces Chief General Davis Adolf Mwamunyange while Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi looks on in Harare
SOME Sadc countries are scrambling for Chisumbanje ethanol as the world embraces environmentally-friendly fuels amid indications that South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi have approached Green Fuel with a view to sealing deals. This comes barely a week after Zimbabwe raised its ethanol blending ratio with petrol to 10 percent, with indications the figure will gradually increase.
Zimbabwe uses 1,5 million litres of petrol daily and with such a blending ratio of 90 percent, unleaded petrol and 10 percent ethanol, it means only 150 000 litres of ethanol will be used out of over half a million litres produced daily.
Green Fuel, which runs the Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant, is a joint venture between the Agricultural Rural Development Authority, Macdom Investments and Rating.
In an interview on the sidelines of a tour of Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant by Tanzanian People’s Defence Forces chief General Davis Adolf Mwamunyange on Wednesday, Green Fuel general manager Mr Graham Smith said other countries were after the ethanol.
“We have been approached by Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa which have introduced blending of petrol to ethanol at varying levels,” he said.
Mr Smith said Green Fuel had potential to become a key regional exporter of ethanol, earning the country millions of US dollars.
The company — whose operations were strangled by the inclusive Government — is now up and running with capacity to produce 120 million litres of ethanol a year, securing over 4 500 jobs.
“This is phase one of the project. In the next seven years we would be producing 500 million litres of ethanol per year.
“The 500 million litres will be enough to substitute the country’s petrol requirements by 100 percent,” Mr Smith said.
He said the firm had plans to expand into the low-veld, which would further increase its ethanol production capacity.
The company has 60 000 hectares of land in Middle Sabi and a further 60 000 hectares at Nuanetsi in Mwenezi.
“We have a further 60 000 hectares in the Mwenezi region that can produce another 500 million litres a year. We will become a key exporter of ethanol in the region.”
Mr Smith said South Africa, which introduced mandatory blending, was “a key market hungry for energy”.
Some of these regional countries like South Africa are experiencing rapid increase in vehicular population growth, yet they do not have conducive climatic conditions to grow sugarcane to process ethanol for blending.
Mr Smith said the Chisumbanje plant had brought a lot of benefits apart from creating 4 500 jobs.
“We do not have a single foreigner as an employee here. Everyone is Zimbabwean,” he said.
The company has also installed irrigation schemes benefiting 4 000 villagers in the arid Sabi Valley.
Mr Smith said Zimbabwe had the best climate for sugarcane production in the world that could turn the country into a major global ethanol producer after powerhouses such as Brazil.
He said the Zambezi Valley and areas around Limpopo were all suitable for the production of sugarcane.
Mr Smith applauded the Zanu-PF Government for backing the ethanol project.
“The Minister of Energy at that time (Elton Mangoma) saw it fit not to back the project. We sat for almost two years. Ethanol projects all over the world succeed when there is Government backing,” he said.
Government last week announced plans to increase the ethanol-petrol blending ratio up to 20 percent by March next year.
During the time when the Energy and Power Development Ministry was under MDC-T, the plant was closed and opened several times, leading to the wastage of hundreds of tonnes of sugarcane meant for ethanol.
Labels: ENERGY, ETHANOL
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(NEWZIMBABWE, REUTERS) Chinamasa pledges to stick with IMF programme
03/10/2013 00:00:00
by Reuters
FINANCE minister Patrick Chinamasa has said the country will stick to an IMF monitoring programme that could pave way for the country to clear its debts, as the economy grapples with chronic power cuts and a crippled manufacturing sector.
A manufacturing sector, crippled first by World Bank structural adjustment (ESAP) from 1991-1996, a disastrous policy, which they then tried to sell as 'Mismanagement By Mugabe'. Then, there are the economic sanctions of ZDERA, especially Section 4 C. Let's have honesty in reporting from Reuters.
S. 494 (107th): Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
(c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- Until the President makes the certification described in subsection (d), and except as may be required to meet basic human needs or for good governance, the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against--
(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- The term `international financial institutions' means
the multilateral development banks and
the International Monetary Fund.
(2) MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS- The term `multilateral development banks' means the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the
International Finance Corporation, the
Inter-American Development Bank, the
Asian Development Bank, the
Inter-American Investment Corporation, the
African Development Bank, the
African Development Fund, the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the
Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency.
- MrK
Zimbabwe is still emerging from a decade of economic decline and hyperinflation, but the economy is stuttering in the aftermath of a disputed election in July that has extended President Robert Mugabe's 33-year rule.
Harare began an International Monetary Fund-led staff-monitored programme in June which, if successful, could help it clear $10 billion in external debts and give it access to new credit from international lenders.
Under the programme, which is set to run until December, it is expected to implement a raft of economic reforms.
"We are committed to the programme," Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa told Reuters on Thursday.
He said he will travel to Washington this weekend to assure IMF officials there that Harare will continue with programme.
Consumers in the southern African nation have experienced electricity blackouts lasting up to 16 hours a day in recent weeks, which state-owned power utility ZESA attributes to maintenance work on its ageing power generating plants.
Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire said this week the only long-term solution to the power crisis was to invest in new plants, which will require billions of dollars and take time to build.
Zimbabwe has a peak demand of 2,200 megawatts of electricity, but only has a supply of 1,167 MW, including imports from Mozambique.
The electricity crunch has hit the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, where output has fallen although mines have largely been spared. Zimbabwe has the second-largest platinum reserves in the world after South Africa, as well as one of the biggest diamond deposits and large quantities of coal and gold.
"We are in the intensive care unit," local media quoted Charles Msipa, head of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries as saying at the Wednesday launch of a report on the state of manufacturing, which showed many firms were operating at a third of capacity.
"Capacity utilisation is declining, in some accounts by alarming margins, leading to downstream effects like retrenchments and reduced activity on the domestic economy," he said.
Manufacturers are battling with high financing costs, with banks charging as much as 20 percent interest, and with demands for higher wages from restless workers.
The power cuts have hampered irrigation of the winter wheat crop in a country that a United Nations agency says is facing its worst food shortages in four years.
Mugabe's new government is crafting a new economic policy, but the 89-year old has vowed that all policies will revolve around his plans to force foreign-owned firms to give majority stakes to black citizens.
The policy, known as indigenisation, is seen as discouraging badly needed foreign investment and hindering access to IMF and World Bank funding.
Nevertheless, Zimbabwe's stock exchange continues to recover after the industrial index plunged 11 percent on Aug 5, the first day of trading after Mugabe's re-election.
The main index rose 14 percent in September alone in what traders said was a market correction from an overdone sell-off.
Foreign investors are mostly targeting Zimbabwe's largest mobile firm Econet Wireless and SAB Miller's local unit Delta, the two largest firms on the exchange.
"There was initial panic but investors have realised that while the government may not induce the desired economic recovery, there is no additional political risk," a local stock broker said.
Labels: ENERGY, IMF, PATRICK CHINAMASA
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Zesco to normalise supply in Lilanda next month
By Kabanda Chulu
Wed 11 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT
ZESCO says normal electricity supply to Lilanda and other outlying areas will be restored next month due to massive equipment upgrades and improvement on the quality of supply of the Lusaka Distribution Network that is being undertaken.
The power utility explained in a bulletin issued this week that the works had caused erratic supply to consumers in the area.
"The upgrade has been necessitated by a sound increase in business activities, as well as notable upsurge in new electricity connections, following subsidized installation fees. Lilanda Site 5 and surrounding areas fall under the increased access project which Zesco is undertaking in partnership with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and the World Bank," it stated.
"In order to smoothly execute the project, Zesco has put in place measures to ensure minimal disruption of supply in the area by constructing temporal substations such as a mobile sub-station at Matero main sub-station. During this period, work to re-route Zesco lines to alternative sub-stations has also been done."
It stated that works involved the upgrading of the 33/11kV Matero sub-station from 2 x 20 MVA to 2 x 41.5 MVA transformers and associated switchgear.
"The works also involve the replacing of obsolete 33kV switchgear at 33kV at Liverpool sub-station along Mungwi Road and upgrading the 33/11kV Barlastone sub-station from 1 x 7.5 MVA to 2 x 20MVA and these works will be completed by October 2013," stated Zesco Ltd.
Labels: ENERGY, ZESCO
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Ethanol firm agrees govt joint venture
27/07/2013 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
COMMENT - I guess flapping your arms around like a 'madam' wasn't enough. - MrK
GREEN Fuel has reached a 49-51 percent joint venture with the government, paving way for production to resume at the company’s US$600 million Chisumbanje ethanol plant.
“Green Fuel Private Limited would like to announce that it has resumed the production of anhydrous ethanol for the purpose of blending with unleaded petrol with immediate effect,” the company said in a statement at the weekend.
“The company agreed with the Government of Zimbabwe to form a joint venture adhering to Zimbabwe’s indigenisation and economic empowerment laws 51/49 percent and Statutory Instrument 17 of 2013 considering the commercial realities of the project.
“Consequently this full compliance to the country’s laws would invoke the complementary efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe to sustain the opening of the ethanol plant.”
Production stopped at the company’s Chisumbanje plant after the firm failed to win government approval for mandatory ethanol blending in the country, leaving the jobs of some 4,500 workers at risk.
The government had also expressed concern over various other issues including the displacement of villagers to make way for the company’s sugar cane plantations as well as the company’s shareholding structure.
Although project promoters insisted that the company – a joint venture between two private firms and agro-parastatal ARDA - was locally-owned, the government insisted it must comply with the country’s indigenisation laws.
Under the legislation, foreign companies must transfer at least 51 percent of their local operations to Zimbabweans.
The joint venture agreement is expected to see the government endorse mandatory petrol blending with Green Fuel insisting this can help reduce the country’s annual fuel import bill by up to US$120 million.
“The blending of ethanol with petrol will reduce the petrol price thereby inhibiting the inflation rate in Zimbabwe to the benefit of the general public. It will also ease Zimbabwe’s cash liquidity crisis,” the company said.
Green Fuel also says it has the capacity to meet about 85 percent of the SADC region’s petroleum requirements.
Labels: ENERGY, ETHANOL, GREEN ENERGY
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REA plans to decentralise its operations countrywide
By Gift Chanda in Katete
Fri 24 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE Rural Electrification Authority plans to decentralise its operations countrywide in bid to efficiently improve access to electricity, says managing director Geoffrey Musonda.
And the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) says works on the Matunga electrification project in Katete, which would see over 3,000 households benefit once the four schools and two health centres in the area are connected to the national grid, are on schedule.
Speaking after touring the project, Musonda disclosed that the authority planned to open offices in all the provincial centres by next year.
He said the authority was targeting opennig at least three offices before the end of this year, of which one of them would be opened in Eastern Province, because of the many projects currently under way.
Musonda explained that having people at district level employed by the REA on a full-time basis would enhance the efficiency of the authority in monitoring construction works.
On the Matunga electrification project construction works, Musonda expressed happiness on what had been done so far, saying works should be completed in time by June.
The Matunga project involves construction of a 26.4-kilometre 33 kilovolts overhead power line from an existing line from Azele substation in a bid to electrify Walumbwe, Matunga, Gaveni, and Nyembe basic schools as well as Gaveni and Nyembe rural health centres.
"From what we have assessed, the project in terms of implementation is on schedule and we are very hopeful that the contractor will be able to complete the project on time. The rainy season had a toll on the rate of implementation but we are satisfied with the way they have moved," said Musonda. "We are also satisfied with the quality of the material being used. Some of the material has been purchased locally and the workmanship looks good so far."
The Matunga project, which is being undertaken at a total cost of KR9 million, is among the 21 grid extension projects REA signed off in November last year.
Labels: DECENTRALISATION, DECONCENTRATION, ENERGY, RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AUTHORITY
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$200m hydropower plant will develop W/Province
By Edwin Mbulo in Kaoma
Sun 12 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
THE US$200 million investment in the first ever hydropower generation plant in Western Province's Sioma district will economically develop the area, says provincial minister Obvious Mwaliteta.
Western Power Company will set up a hydropower plant at Ngonye Falls, which is expected to generate up to 80 megawatts of power.
Western Province is currently one of the least developed areas of Zambia and the coming of the hydropower plant which will partly be funded by the Development Bank of South Africa is expected to boost the area's economic standing and ultimately create jobs for the local people.
The power project will utilise a barrage across the main east bank river channel of the Zambezi and a pit type power house.
Commenting on the development, Mwaliteta said Western Province was moving at a fast rate in terms of development.
"The EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) done by Western Power was welcomed by people and the BRE (Barotse Royal Establishment) is behind it as well meaning it is a welcome idea and it will create employment and the new district, Sioma, will benefit a lot from the station in terms of social corporate responsibility which will come along with that development," he said.
Mwaliteta said the PF's promises of job creation were coming to pass.
He said the government was also looking at increasing revenue collection for economic development through tourism which would be enhanced around Sioma-Ngonye Falls with the construction of the power station.
"Tourism is ripe in that place. But due to its status it is difficult to improve tourism in that area, but once we have a power station there, it will be easy as we have a new road," Mwaliteta said.
He said the investment by Western Power Company was a realisation of the government's commitment to allow private investors help develop Zambia.
"It is our vision and our belief to bring the private sector to help us bring development where it is lacking," he said.
Mwaliteta said Western Province would no longer be an example of a least developed region in Zambia with the new developments coming up.
"People in Lusaka if they want to talk of the worst place, they will mention Shangombo, if they want to talk of the worst province, it is Western Province but come 2016 if they want to talk of the newly developed place it will be Western Province. This power station will change the lives of the people," he said. "It is unfortunate that we are in a political scenario where the opposition is trying to put pressure on this government so that we can lose track, but we will not lose track because we are on solid ground and a lot of people have confidence in us, apart from small boys such as Nevers Mumba, Hakainde Hichilema and Fr Frank Bwalya."
Meanwhile, Mwaliteta said the PF and its government had brought first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda close to them because they want to learn from his vast experience in political administration.
Addressing government and private sector heads of department in Kaoma yesterday, Mwaliteta said the current government would not abandon Dr Kaunda's legacy the way the MMD did.
"We as a government will work very hard so that we do not abandon where we come from. We should look back, that is why we have brought Dr Kenneth Kaunda close to us so that we learn something while he is still alive, it is important that we are with him because we went wrong. As a country we made a lot of mistakes from 1991," he said.
And Mwaliteta said the Constituency Development Fund had been highly politicised and was being used as an appeasement fund by members of parliament to seek support for 2016.
"I'm not threatened politically, I'm ready to step down if I'm a failure. I will surrender that money so that it speaks for me. I never touched the KR1.3 million for 2012 and KR1.3 million for this year, I have already given it out for capital projects since the council is fully equipped. CDF is government money and not a member of parliament's money; it is for the constituency. It must benefit the people. It is even better to give it to the council to provide services," he said.
He said it was sad that police in Mwandi where MMD vice president Michael Kaingu is member of parliament were operating under a tree until the PF's government kick-started the construction of a police post in the area.
Mwaliteta urged the councils to start taking land from the rich to give to the poor.
"What has been happening in Zambia is that we have been taking land from the poor to give the rich…," said Mwaliteta.
Labels: ENERGY, HYDRO POWER, OBVIOUS MWALITETA
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ZESA starts US$70m Zambia debt payments
19/02/2013 00:00:00
by Business Reporter
ZESA said Tuesday it had started paying a $70 million debt to Zambia, a necessary step before the two nations can embark on a joint 1,600 megawatt hydroelectric plant, which could help relieve a power shortage.
The two countries have started preliminary work on the Batoka power project, estimated to cost $2.5 billion, and expected to be built and operated by a private company for a period of years before transferring ownership to the two states.
ZESA Chief Executive Elijah Chifamba told a parliamentary committee hearing the utility had started making payments to Zambia to clear the debt incurred when Zimbabwe sold off assets of a disbanded power firm jointly owned by the two countries to run hydroelectric plants at the Kariba dam.
Chifamba said Zimbabwe will have paid $40 million to the Zambians by the end of March.
“Zesa has paid US$20 million after the creation of a sinking fund with a local bank and should have paid an additional US$20 million by the end of March this year,” he said.
“The amount should be cleared by the end of March next year with work on the project expected to begin within 18 months as expressions of interest had been advertised.
"Zambians needed to see first that we were committed to settling that debt and to demonstrate that we are bona fide partners before they could actually enter into the Batoka project. Because we have done so, that has unlocked the project."
Batoka is situated 50kms downstream of Victoria Falls and with the two countries expecting to get 800 MW each from the project.
Zambia had refused to partner Zimbabwe until the Federation-era debt was cleared. The debt also includes proceeds of the sale of assets belonging to former Central African Power Corporation (CAPCO) which ran the Kariba project but was disbanded in 1987.
Zimbabwe, which currently generates just over 1,000 MW of power or about half of peak demand, has struggled to get funding for new projects to expand capacity, largely due to concerns about the handling of the country’s economy. The resulting power shortage has paralysed mines and industries.
Chifamba said ZESA, which is owed $740 million by non-paying customers, was struggling to raise long-term finance to fund its projects. The company has, however, cleared $100 million in debt for importing power owed to Mozambique's Hydro Cahorra Bassa.
The utility signed a $400 million deal with Chinese hydropower engineering firm Sinohydro in December to expand its Kariba hydroelectric plant by 300 megawatts.
Zimbabwe is in discussions with Export-Import Bank of China over funding the expansion.
The country has licensed several independent power producers, but analysts say it is unlikely to attract significant foreign investment due to Mugabe's drive to force foreign firms, including mines and banks, to turn over 51 percent ownership stakes to locals under a black economic empowerment law.
Labels: ELIJAH CHIFAMBA, ENERGY, HYDRO POWER, ZESA
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Load-shedding annoys Sata
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 07 Dec. 2012, 12:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday got annoyed with load-shedding at State House. And President Sata says he will not suspend Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba unless the Anti Corruption Commission proves the allegations to him.
During the swearing in of Rollen Mukanda as ACC commissioner and the Teaching Service Commission members at State House yesterday in the morning, there was interruption in power supply thrice while President Sata was speaking.
The other two power interruptions happened shortly before President Sata walked into the room to swear in the commissioners.
The power outages incensed President Sata who took to task his principal private secretary Francis Chalabesa.
"You see the efficiency of Mr Chalabesa who is in charge of State House, nomba when we start getting load-shedding here, what about people in the compound? Where is Mr Chalabesa? He is not even here. Soko, where is your brother Mr Chalabesa?" asked President Sata.
Soko responded that Chalabesa was calling Zesco managing director Cyprian Chitundu. Shortly afterwards, Chalabesa came in and President Sata asked him if he was repairing the generator.
"Ba Peter Kasanda deputy Secretary to Cabinet mwamona mwaya leta abakote ati musunge State House. Mr Kasanda have you seen, you brought us an old man to be in charge of State House. If we have load-shedding at State House, what more in Kanyama? And you have this man Chalabesa very inexperienced in electricity issues," said President Sata.
Meanwhile, President Sata said the ACC should not have gone to the press to announce its investigations against Kabimba before proving anything.
"Madam Rollen, I want you to take some sanity to the ACC. If you ask judge Christopher Mushabati, how would you feel if somebody is investigating you in the Times of Zambia? Because if you are investigating somebody, that must be between you and that person and I will not suspend anybody unless you prove to me," he said.
President Sata said the law required the ACC to get permission from him as head of state before they could carry out investigations against a senior government official.
"You don't go to the press and say you are investigating somebody, that's the MMD way of doing things. If you ask judge Mushabati, he will tell you natural justice demands the accused to be heard. You don't go to the newspaper and say we are investigating. Give people the privacy which they also deserve as you also have," President Sata said.
Later as he led the people that were sworn in outside for a photo shoot, President Sata told justice Mushabati to advise ACC director general Rosewin Wandi not to be embarrassing his ministers in public.
"You Mr Mushabati, tell this woman to stop embarrassing my ministers. There is a way of embarrassing ministers, not like that," he said.
And speaking to journalists shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, Wandi said the commission would not try people in the media.
Wandi said the ACC would soon call Kabimba for interviews.
"…I don't think the instruction here is that the justice minister is not going to be interviewed. He is definitely going to be interviewed and it is a matter of time. We will be getting in touch with him soon," she said.
And President Sata hoped that the new members of the Teaching Service Commission would bring some sanity to the service.
"It is a pity because if I had a choice, all the men I would not have allowed them because you are going to deal with tender age. Today the Teaching Service Commission, I don't know what has gone to them, whether dogs have gone there and when you have men like these, what inspiration are you going to give to the Teaching Service Commission?" President Sata wondered.
He said the service needed a lot of inspiration and that issues of defilement and examination leakages could only be dealt with if the country had a dignified service and men running the commission.
President Sata urged the new service chairperson Jennipher Chiwela, whom he said he knew personally, to look at the recruitment of teachers and not allow people who were unqualified to be recruited.
Also sworn in as Teaching Service Commission members were Alfred Sikazwe as vice-chairman, Justo Chishimba, Agness Nyoni, Robam Mwaba, David Kandolondo and Janet Kayama as members.
And President Sata has with immediate effect created seven more districts.
The newly established districts are three in Western Province namely Nkeyema, Limulunga, and Mwandi, while the other districts are Luano, Chisamba and Chitambo in Central Province, and Shiwang'andu in Muchinga Province.
President Sata has directed the provincial leadership in Western, Central and Muchinga provinces to liaise with all the stakeholders, political parties and their royal highnesses in order for them to establish the centre where the district headquarters will be situated.
Labels: ACC, DISTRICTS, ENERGY, MICHAEL SATA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Mozambique to boost power supplies: ZESA
14/10/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZESA has reduced its debt with Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa from US$76 million to just under US$3 million over the last six months with officials saying this would help improve power supplies across the country.
Zimbabwe needs about 2,200 megawatts of electricity at peak consumption but ZESA generates just below 1,300 megawatts and plugs the gap with imports from the regional suppliers.
The utility has been forced to ration power to both domestic and commercial users after supplies from the region were cut over mounting debts.
However, ZESA spokesman, Fullard Gwasira said reduction the Hydro Cahora Bassa debt to about US$2.7 million would see the company boosting supplies. ZESA expects to pay up the debt by year end.
“Load-shedding is going to be significantly reduced as Cahora Bassa have increased their supply to us as we have almost cleared the debt we owe them,” he said.
“The challenge we have is that we are splitting our resources between two equally important areas.
“First we have to pay for the electricity we are importing on a daily basis while secondly some money also has to be channelled towards clearing the debt.
“It’s a matter of tackling two issues at the same time, but we are confident that we would have cleared the debt by the end of the year.”
ZESA’s financial troubles have also been worsened by customers failing to pay their bills. The utility says it is owed about US$500 million.
“With the introduction of pre-paid meters, the era of a consumers using electricity and then failing to honour their bills will be a thing of the past,” Gwasira said.
Energy Minister, Elton Mangoma, has also revealed that several new projects are also planned to help boost the country’s power generation capacity.
Early this year, Mangoma said a French consortium had been granted a licence to build a 2,000 MW thermal power plant in an investment worth about US$3 billion.
The power station will be situated at Binga’s Lusulu coal fields which are said to have an estimated 1,2 billion tonnes of coal reserves.
And last month, Chinese firm Guangdong Bureau of Coal Geology also announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build a 1,200 megawatt thermal power plant.
Labels: ELTON MANGOMA, ENERGY, MOZAMBIQUE, ZESA
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Zim pays $15m towards CAPCO debt
September 12, 2012
By Maimbolwa Mulikelela -
THE Zimbabwean Government has paid US$15 million towards the US$70 million it owes Zambia for the sale of the Central African Power Corporation (CAPCO) assets which were jointly owned by the two countries.
Recently, the Zimbabwe paid an instalment of US$5 million (about K25 billion) following an agreement which was made between the two countries in January this year.
Energy Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said in an interview in Kabwe that the Zimbabwean government had commenced payments towards the debt it owes Zambia and so far US$15 million has been paid.
Mr Mukanga said the Zimbabwean government would be making another installment soon.
“They have started making payment and they are expected to make another instalment by early next month. I know about their payments and I have been told that they are on schedule so we do not have any problems in as far as payments are concerned.
“I was even on a video conference with them last week on Thursday and we discussed with the minister of Zimbabwe the Batoka issue, and so everything is alright,” Mr Mukanga said.
He said they would soon be floating their advertisement in the national Press asking for would be contractors to bid for engineering services and construction services for the Batoka hydro power project.
“We want to do repairs on Kariba Dam so those advertisements will be floated soon,” Mr Mukanga said.
Recently, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly construct the 1,650 mega watts Batoka Hydro-power project which is estimated to cost in excess of US$4 billion.
The agreement was, however based on Zimbabwe’s commitment to pay off the debt it owed Zambia over the CAPCO.
It was agreed during the council of ministers which was held in Siavonga that Zimbabwe should settle US$70 million debt it owes Zambia for the sale of CAPCO asssets before the joint project commences.
Plans for the project were initially mooted in 1993, but the Zambian Government was reluctant because of the outstanding debts which it wanted Zimbabwe to clear first.
The debt was for the shared cost of the Kariba Dam construction and the associated infrastructure.
It also involved the sale of the CAPCO assets which both countries owned as members of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was dissolved in 1963.
The proposed Batoka Power project site is located below the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River and once completed would boost power supply in the two countries.
Labels: ENERGY
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ERB to hike tariffs for mines
By Gift Chanda in Lusaka and Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Fri 22 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
THE Energy Regulation Board plans to gradually hike electricity tariffs for mining firms to achieve cost reflectivity by 2015. ERB director for infrastructure and regulation, James Manda, said the energy regulator would like all mining companies by 2015 to be paying electricity tariffs that reflect the true cost of producing power.
He told the mining and energy conference in Lusaka on Wednesday that the ERB would gradually raise the electricity tariffs in the mining sector to cost reflectivity by 2015.
"We want to see this migration by 2015," Manda said.
And energy minister Christopher Yaluma said the country was far from achieving electricity tariffs that reflect the true cost of producing power.
"From where we are, we are not even close to what we would like to see from the initial stage and that is why we are saying the next tariffs we are going to approve will start having that element of cost reflectivity in them," Yaluma told journalists on the sidelines of the conference.
"That is what is going to sustain or woo investors to go in hydro power generation because that cost of doing maintenance works will be embedded in the tariffs. As it is, power producers have got to strive to do their maintenance because the power is given without taking into consideration that cost element which would maintain the equipment."
Yaluma said sustainable development could only be achieved with adequate energy generation and supply.
He noted that currently the level of power generation in Zambia was inadequate to meet the demand of the mining industry.
He urged the private sector to work with the government and invest in the country's energy sector to address the current energy shortfall.
Electricity is a major issue in Zambia as the mining sector in Africa's top copper producer is power hungry and growth over the next few years could be constrained by available supply.
The power shortfall in the country has triggered widespread blackout and forced the country's power utility, Zesco, to be rationing power.
Zambia, however, expects to have a power surplus of about 600 megawatts (MW) by 2016, which should help ease the electricity deficit facing southern Africa.
Meanwhile, a mining consultant has proposed that the government and mining companies build two dams in Copperbelt and North Western provinces for hydro power generation.
Makesa Kalifungwa, who is also proprietor of Goldenberg Mining in North Western Province, suggested that all mining companies should accept to go into partnerships with Zesco and the government to build sustainable power sources in the country that would ultimately reduce load-shedding as well as the cost of doing business.
"This will also reduce the cost of electricity. Such ventures will have multiple effects in that fish farming will be enhanced and the manufacturing sector will be boosted because power will be cheaper," Kalifungwa said.
He said mining companies being the biggest power consumers should have no problems venturing into such projects and cited Copperbelt Energy Corporation as having embarked on power projects.
Kalifungwa also urged the government to intensify oil explorations in parts of the country that had been long earmarked for such activities.
"Feasibility studies have been done before and these studies have revealed that there is oil in notable areas in the country, so the best is to allocate adequate resources in the budget to go towards exploration of oil," he said.
Labels: ENERGY, ERB, MINING
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COMMENT - Translation: Africa must do what is in the interests of the oligarchs that rule the United States and 'the West'. They want our resources, and they need roads and energy to get them out. Securing Africa's resources for the oligarchs is the reason for the creation of AFRICOM.
Africa must focus on transportation facilities, energy - US
By Kabanda Chulu
Thu 14 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
AFRICAN countries must focus on developing energy and transportation facilities if they are to increase benefits from AGOA, says a senior United States government official.
In a teleconference with Zambian journalists on Tuesday ahead of the 11th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum on US-sub-Saharan Africa trade and economic cooperation, director of economic policy at the Bureau of African affairs, Amy Holman, who could, however, not give categorical answers to several questions asked, said the forum that started in 2001 has been the US government's signature trade initiative with Africa aimed at diversifying exports and expanding economic opportunities for Africans.
"AGOA aims at creating jobs and reducing barriers to trade and with 6,000 products receiving duty free treatment when exported to the US market. AGOA has helped generate hundreds of billions of dollars in trade and investment opportunities in its short lifespan," Holman said.
"To keep this momentum, this year's AGOA forum will focus on enhancing infrastructure development in Africa, which is a critical part of unleashing Africa's economic potential, including the tremendous intellectual, technical and business capital represented by Africa's youth, women and entrepreneurs."
And Director for African Affairs under the Office of the US Trade Representative Dean Coleman said AGOA provided a framework for improved access to US credit and technical expertise and establishes a high level dialogue on trade and investment.
"It is an integral component of the United States' overall trade with sub-Saharan Africa, increasing the two-way trade between the US and Africa to over US$95 billion in 2011, which is an increase from the US$13 billion recorded in 2010, thus bringing a total of US$716 billion in the two way trade since 2001," said Coleman.
The AGOA forum started earlier this month with a series of trade networking events and meetings aimed at linking African entrepreneurs and their US counterparts but the main conference will take place from June 14-15, and the Zambian delegation is led by commerce, trade and industry minister Bob Sichinga.
Labels: AGOA, ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT
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Zambia needs more power stations, says Chitundu
By Kabanda Chulu and Tilyenji Mwanza
Wed 13 June 2012, 13:23 CAT
THE long-term solution to the massive load shedding being experienced is to build additional power generating stations in the country, says Zesco managing director Cyprian Chitundu.
And Chitundu has asked Zesco employees to improve their performance and ensure prompt responses to customer complaints to enhance service delivery following the handover of operational vehicles and other equipment to the power utility.
Speaking to journalists after distributing the vehicles to Zesco divisions and power stations in Lusaka yesterday, Chitundu said Zambia has not built a single power station in the last 40 years.
"It is not true that we didn't foresee this situation of having increased demand during winter…electricity is a dynamic product. As we speak, the customers we had yesterday are different from the ones we have today because every day more customers are added onto our network and the problem we have is that of fixed amount of power supply," Chitundu said.
"It is just like at home, when single, you buy a loaf of bread and when you get married and you have children, you can't expect to eat the same portions you have been used to eating. Similarly, as a country we have not built a single power station during the last 40 years but demand has been increasing and as Zesco, we are constructing new ones starting with extension of Kariba North Bank which will result in adding 360 megawatts to the national grid by next year and then we shall focus on Kafue Lower and Itezhi-tezhi. These projects take long, about five years but customers want to be connected to power today thus putting pressure on our network."
He said load shedding could be reduced in the short term if customers comply with proposed energy saving measures, especially during peak time of early in the morning and around 18 hours.
"In the cold season, there is an increase in the usage of all sorts of heaters and we have noticed that this is also peak period of wheat irrigation and yesterday (Monday) we had a problem at Kariba North where one generator developed a fault but we repaired it and subsequently we had another fault at Luano near Chingola where a transformer developed a fault," he said.
"In three weeks time, we shall have fourth generator at Kariba to help us push sufficient voltage on our network to solve this insufficient voltage leading to our inability to push power within our network and we are also procuring a transformer from in India that will be installed at Luano."
During handover of vehicles, Chitundu said Zesco has this year invested K66 billion to procure vehicles in order to serve customers better.
"We need reliable transport in order to respond effectively to issues of faults and connections and we want these problems to be a thing of the past," said Chitundu.
Labels: CYPRIAN CHITUNDU, ENERGY, LOAD SHEDDING, ZESCO
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Zambia, Zimbabwe seal $4 billion power deal
TIME PUBLISHED - Thursday, April 26, 2012, 2:26 pm
President Michael Sata who is on a State visit to neighboring Zimbabwe yesterday together with his counterpart Robert Mugabe witnessed the signing of the MoU on co-operation to jointly construct a US$4 billion 1,650 megawatt hydro-power station at the Batoka Gorge. The two Memorandums of Understanding signed were of Co-operation in Tourism and Youth Development.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi and
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere signed on behalf of Zimbabwe while Zambian Foreign Affairs and
Tourism Minister Given Lubinda signed on behalf of Zambia.
And Zimbabwe’s Herald Newspaper reports that speaking during a state banquette held in honour of President Sata, President Mugabe pledged Zimbabwe’s commitment to working with its Zambian counterparts in efforts to chart a successful future for the two countries.
President Mugabe described Zimbabwe and Zambia as Siamese twins, adding that the two countries are inseparable.
The Zimbabwean leader also hailed the signing of the MOU on co-operation to jointly construct a US$4 billion hydro-power station at Batoka Gorge, stating that such infrastructural projects are the enablers of real and sustainable economic development.
He said the project is as important to the two countries as it is to the whole Southern Africa region which is experiencing a critical power deficit.
And President Sata said Zambia and Zimbabwe’s relations, dating back to the pre-independence era, were founded on common traditions and cultural values.
He said Zambia could not celebrate its independence without the liberation of Zimbabwe.
Mr Sata said the signing of the two MoUs by the two governments would further enhance social and economic relations.
President Sata re-affirmed Zambia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through increased economic co-operation in various areas, as identified by the Joint Permanent Commission of Co-operation.
The President Sata said since the two countries are landlocked, Zambia and Zimbabwe have made strides to make them land-linked through the Chirundu One-Stop-Border Post.
He said this had improved efforts towards trade facilitation particularly on the North-South Corridor and reducing costs on the route.
Mr Sata said the UNTWO General Assembly will shine the spotlight on Victoria Falls and Livingstone while showcasing the beauty and splendour of the Victoria Falls. President Sata said co-operation within the region was imperative.
[QFM]
Labels: ENERGY, GIVEN LUBINDA, HYDRO POWER, MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, SAVIOUR KASUKUWERE
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Kambwili reveals that ZESCO has written off all bills incurred by Luanshya residents
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 1:09 pm
The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has written off all electricity bills incurred by Luanshya residents who were affected by the closure of Luanshya Copper Mine.
This came to light yesterday when Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili addressed a public meeting in his constituency at Chaisa complex grounds. Mr. Kambwili explained that the move came about after a thorough discussion with the Energy Minister.
He noted that at a time the mine was closed, a lot of people were out of employment making it difficult for them to settle their electricity and other bills.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kambwili was, however, quick to urge the residents to pay their outstanding bills as the mine is now open and people have gone back to work.
Mr. Kambwili also directed ZCCM to ensure that all the people who bought mine houses are given title deeds by September this year.
He also emphasized on the importance of people paying their electricity bills saying it enables the utility firm run efficiently.
Mr. Kambwili also directed ZCCM to ensure that all the people who bought mine houses are given title deeds by September this year.
ZANIS
Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, ENERGY, ZESCO
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There's need to stimulate growth of renewable energy, says PS
By Stephen Mwewa in Mungwi
Mon 02 Apr. 2012, 12:58 CAT
THERE is need to stimulate the growth of renewable energy in Zambia through promoting and financially supporting jatropha farming, says Northern Province deputy permanent secretary Georgina Zulu. Jatropha is a raw material used in the production of bio-products such as diesel and other organic goods.
Addressing jatropha farmers in Mungwi district on Saturday during the Bio-Fuels Association stakeholders strategic planning meeting, Zulu said the government's national energy policy was aimed at promoting renewable energy production in the country.
She said the aim of the policy was simply to promote local production of bio-diesel using jatropha, as a raw material, thereby economically empowering local key players of the industry.
Zulu said the government will fully support and encourage farmers to extensively grow jatropha for the development of the bio-diesel industry in the country.
She said once the local production of bio-diesel was fully operational, it would enable the government to save some money on oil imports for the improvement of other social-economic sectors.
Earlier, Mungwi Bio-Fuel Association chairman Pride Mutale appealed to the government to fund the industry to enable jatropha farmers increase their output.
He said the vision of his association had been to ensure that local production of bio-diesel was achieved by 2016.
Mutale said Mungwi district would be a leading producer of renewable energy by 2016 premised on the fact that many farmers had fully ventured into jatropha cultivation, besides maize and food crops.
He said the initiative of venturing into jatropha farming was introduced in 2008 by a non-governmental organization called Agriterra.
Mutale also said jatropha was also raw material for the production of organic fertilisers and soaps.
Labels: ENERGY, JATROPHA
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