Malawi preparing to take the E100 plunge

In Malawi, the Energy Department has called for more investment in ethanol production so that the country can boost supply of domestically produced fuel to 49 million liters annually from the current 18 million liters. The national policy is E20 but the government wants to boost E100 supplies for flex-fuel vehicles.

It will also look at changing the current law that pegs ethanol prices with imported fossil fuel prices in order to spur demand. Ethco, one of two producers nationally, is implementing a project with mini-mills around the country that will process cane into syrup that will then be distilled at the company’s ethanol plant that is only running at half capacity due to lack of molasses availability.