Speaking during an interview to AIM, Joana Matidiana, spokesperson of the government of Gaza, said that in the first stage, the project that is due to start soon, will create at least 7,000 new jobs for the people of Massingir and surrounding areas, and "therefore its is welcome, as it will contribute largely in the fight against poverty in Mozambique".
The proprietors of this company, the first of its kind in Africa, also own an ethanol plant in Brazil and want to develop in Massingir an irrigation scheme for some 30,000 hectares, besides other infrastructures that will benefit the local communities.
The proponents of this project are planning, among others, to develop in the same region a grazing area for cattle belonging to the local communities, as Massingir is one of the major beef producers in Gaza.
Currently, the Mozambican authorities are in the process of expanding the sugar industry in Mozambique to diversify country's economy.
"We want to diversify our economy because we don't want our economy to depend on just four major products of export. We would like to contribute with some other products, such as alcohol. We can also contribute with the export of electricity, as the sugar mill could also generate electrical power and sell it to the domestic market", said to AIM a source from the Mozambique's Agrarian Promotion Centre.
This would enable to decrease the consumption of power generated at the Cahora Bassa Dam, which could eventually be exported to other countries in the region such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland, Malawi and Botswana, said the same source who asked not to be named.
"It is beyond any doubt that production of ethanol is the one of best opportunities for the country", stressed the source, adding that power generation is another area that the government will have to explore more.
"We are already working with the Ministries of Energy, Industry and Trade Ministry and Agriculture. The Energy Ministry has already established a task force to work on that area of ethanol, to evaluate the possibility to generate electricity", said the source.
The government believes that this "is an opportunity and that it must work fast, other wise it will run away to other countries".
In 2006, the Mozambican sugar industry achieved the highest production of the last 30 years, by producing 300.000 tons in the existing four plants currently operating in the country, namely Marromeu and Mafambisse, in the central province of Sofala and Maragra and Xinavane, in the southern province of Maputo.
The highest production ever reported in Mozambique was in 1972, when there were six factories operating in Mozambique.
SOURCE: AIM
