Warning over Reckless Biofuel Projects

One environmentalist and sitting MP, Prof Raphael Mwalyosi, has attacked the Tanzanian government for the way it has given the go-ahead to biofuel projects without taking into account the potential consequences.

According The East African, Prof Mwalyosi said the government should halt all the biofuel projects in the country until a law is passed to govern the sector.

Addressing parliament, The East African said, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said the government was not in a position to stop the ongoing production but projects that are yet to start will be deferred as it was still preparing a national policy on biofuels.

Mr Pinda said that the ministries of Agriculture, Food and Co-operatives together with Energy and Minerals had been assigned the task of drawing up a policy and bill to regulate the biofuel sector.

Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja said the government was looking for aid from Sweden to fund the research on biofuel products, according to The East African.

An Oxfam report released at the beginning of this month on biofuel production and its effects in Tanzania said that food supply to the nation could be in jeopardy with the environment endangered if the government continues to support haphazard production of biofuel.

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