A combined team of Chinese and Zambian investors is currently conducting feasibility studies in Northern Province on the possibilities of establishing a US$ 3 billion bio-diesel joint venture project.
Traditional rulers in Northern Province have expressed willingness to provide large portions of land for the project, which is likely to create employment for the local people.
Speaking in Kasama recently during a meeting with heads of Government departments attended by the investors; Commence Minister Felix Mutati said there was need to attract more investors to create job opportunities for the local people.
Mr. Mutati said Government was working hard to ensure that it creates a conducive environment for both local and foreign investment.
The Minister expressed hope that the project which is aimed at creating massive out-grower schemes for bio diesel would be well received by the province failure to which it will be moved to another province.
Delegation leader from the Private Sector Development Reform Programme, Lovemore Simwanda said Bio-mass development PLC, a Zambian company and Wuhan Kaidi holdings of China, plans to invest about US$ 3bn in the bio-fuel project in Zambia.
The investment is expected to create about 50,000 job opportunities for the local people.
He explained that the team which was targeting five districts in Northern Province was looking for land in excess of 700,000 hectors where to set up plantations for the extraction of bio-fuel.
He said the land which was being looked at was that which had been degraded through massive cutting of trees.
Chief Chitoshi and Mukupa Kaoma of Mporokoso district have expressed willingness to provide land for the Bio Diesel project if their areas are found suitable for the project.
The Chiefs told ZANIS in separate interviews recently that they were ready to sit down with the investors so that they could discuss how best the project would benefit their subjects.
They observed that they have been longing for investment which would help to improve the living standards of people in their chiefdoms.
The districts targeted are Nakonde, Isoka, Chinsali, Mporokoso and Luwingu.
ZANIS/HH/MKM/ENDS
Geography Ba LT…..Kawambwa in Northern Province????? Its not even mentioned in your article.
I agree with you.The Social Studies i learnt in G5 was clear about Kawambwa being in Luapula.I think our journalists need some basic geography otherwise twalasebana.
Prepare for hard times ahead.
Why are so pessimissitic about the future?be positive and try to be inspirational.
Thank you to the two mentioned companies which are working to make Zambia self energy efficient and also with clean energy.
I hope this energy which will provide jobs to about 50,000 people will be cheaper than fossil fuels as it will greatly reduce the cost of doing business.
This is a good move and also an important step in the diversification of our economy. It will also lead to development in the province and a reduction in congestion in urban LSK and CB.
This article makes a Zambian proud. The resources are plenty and there is need to invest in the energy sector. This will not only create the job opportunities mentioned but will attract even more investment. It is this news that makes Zambia attractive. It is not easy to be landlocked but still there is a lot we can do to make Zambia a center of attraction.
Good move. I hope a good deal will be agreed. The gov’t should also consider looking into the salaries paid to locals by these investors. Sometimes locals end up becoming more poor on the benefit of the investor.
What Zambia needs right now is energy independence.Energy hasbeen a greater contributor of Inflation and the move is more than welcome for sustanable economic development.
Lets hope there will be no politics like in zambian airways.