ZIMBABWE plans to scale up its biofuel technology and venture into sustainable aviation fuels in pursuit of global environmental standards, a government official has said.
Speaking at a recent seminar on sustainable aviation fuels, Infrastructure Development deputy minister Michael Madiro said the country’s biofuels programme has resulted in gasoline blends of up to 25 percent.
“The Mount Hampden and Mutoko jatropha biodiesel projects, which have a combined production output of 375 000 litres of biodiesel per day, reflect Zimbabwe’s efforts at contributing to environmental protection,” Madiro said.
“We hope that with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) support, we can upscale the projects and also venture into research and development of sustainable aviation fuels.
Madiro said it is the country’s goal to support the aviation environmental protection programmes and implementation of an action plan on the environment as a contracting state of the Chicago Convention.
“To demonstrate our strong resolve on environmental protection, the government of Zimbabwe is capacitating the national airline in the form of equipment, which contributes towards a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 30 percent,” he said.
He added that “as a ministry, we are alive to the impact of climate change in the lives of nationals, hence our keenness to participate in initiatives of this nature.
“It is indeed clear that this initiative, which is the first global market-based measure aimed at attaining greater levels of CO2 mitigation in international aviation, could be achieved through domestic policy interventions.”
Madiro stressed that the moment for aviation environmental protection is now and that it supports the aim of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
He acknowledged the role that the ICAO is playing in developing appropriate policies for the harmonisation of global civil aviation systems to ensure a “safe, secure, orderly, and sustainable” international air transport system.
ICAO organised the seminar in conjunction with the European Union to allow policymakers, air transport regulators, representatives from the aviation industry, and other key stakeholders to review progress towards implementation of the Paris Agreement, identify challenges and opportunities, and eventually agree on a roadmap for priority actions, building on the decisions of the 41st ICAO assembly.
Zimbabwe is currently working on ensuring that it becomes an aviation hub in the region in line with Vision 2030, as pronounced in the National Development Strategy 1.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation industry has been on a strong recovery path.
Earlier this year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe hinted that it is currently luring more airlines to the country to facilitate smooth air travel within the continent.
The country is also working on upgrading the Robert Mugabe International Airport, which is expected to see more international airlines open routes to Zimbabwe. As of February 2023, the expansion of the main terminal was 85 percent complete and was expected to be fully complete by June 2023.
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