The potential for bio-ethanol fuel from molasses in the Southern African sugar industry

This paper investigates the technical advancement in the production of ethanol in Southern Africa and examines the utilisation of ethanol and of the by-products derived from its production process. Although numerous studies have identified the use of ethanol as an alternative energy source especially in Brazil and the USA, very little data and analytical attention has been given to Southern Africa. This paper therefore builds on that and on the study done on alternative energy in Southern Africa such as the coal to liquids processes by Sasol. The paper demonstrates that the expansion of bio-ethanol as an alternative fuel would result in the reduction of Greenhouse gasses emissions and an increase in the rural economic development in the Southern African region. In conclusion the paper emphasises the need for a speedy upgrading of the ethanol technological methods in order to expand the use of bio-ethanol as an alternative energy. In addition the paper strongly recommends the supplementation of coal for the generation of electricity, as well as the progressive replacement of petroleum fuelled vehicles with the ethanol blend or the complete replacement with ethanol-fuelled ones.