THE Government has hailed Kilimanjaro Biochem Limited (KBL), the first grassroot level bio-chemical manufacturing company in Tanzania for its efforts to go green and use part of its profit in support of social services to nearby villages.
The Deputy Minister in Vice-President’s
Office, Union Matters and Environment, Mr Luhaga Mpina, said here that
it was in the interest of the nation that individuals and firms stopped
using firewood to stop desertification.
Mr Mpina gave the remarks after his tour
of the factory to assess environmental issues and was briefed by KBL
Managing Director, Akhilesh Joshipura that carbon dioxide gas generated
by fermentation process was not discharged into air.
He said most of the gas was liquefied
and purified to 99.99+% purity and supplied to beverage industries in
Tanzania and neighbouring countries. Mr Joshipura said the company’s
products were subject to international approval and overseas testing
apart from advanced in- house testing facilities.
He told the minister who was accompanied
by the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) officials and
those of Mwanga District that carbon dioxide plant has on-line analyser
to detect impurities.
The director said Extra Neutral Alcohol
(ENA) that is 96.4 per cent is potable grade Ethanol used by Alcoholic
Beverage Industry and it has specification on a consistent basis.
He said that ENA and LCO2 were approved
by Tanzania Foods and Drug Authority (TFDA), while the company also has
Halal Certification for its other plants. Mr Joshipura said the company
recycles effluents to generate biogas and makes briquettes from saw
dust, a waste product, to fire boilers and reduce dependence on
conventional fossil fuels and it does not use firewood at all.
“The company has planted 3,000 trees as
part of its agro forestry programme. It is working on developing small
out-growers for sugarcane irrigation in 2,000 acres of Same and Mwanga
districts,” he said.
Juice from sugarcane to be grown by the
small farmers would be directly converted into Ethanol in addition to
molasses; something the manager said will generate agro income for rural
masses in remote areas and improve their livelihood.
Earlier, Same District Commissioner
(DC), Mr Shaibu Ndemanga and Same District Council Executive Director
(DED), Mr Jamhuri William told the deputy minister that KBL has helped
much in social services.
Mr William said apart from 5m/- service
levy paid monthly by the company to the council, it supported Kifaru
Village Dispensary, water project and procured for the people a pump for
pumping water from a borehole
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