The mooted biodiesel plant that is to be the subject of a pre-feasibility study by South African petrochemicals group Sasol and the Central Energy Fund (CEF), could almost triple soyabean demand in South Africa.
Sasol and the CEF on Thursday said that the proposed biodiesel plant would require more than 500 000 tonnes of soya beans to produce 100 000 tonnes of biodiesel per annum.
At present, South Africa consumed about 275 000 tonnes of soyabeans per annum and in the 2005/06 season, South African farmers harvested 272 500 tonnes.
However, Sasol spokesperson Johann van Rheede said that it was “very early
days” for the project.
Biodiesel made from soyabean could be blended with conventional fossil diesel without any need for vehicle modifications and biodiesel contained little sulphur and was clean burning, Sasol said.
“It is an environmentally benign fuel that does not contribute to global climate change and reduces most tailpipe emissions, such as carbon monoxide, particulates and aromatic compounds,” the group added.
Farmers in the Free State have been looking at producing ethanol from maize.
May 2006 soyabean quoted on Safex ended on Thursday unchanged at R1 392 a tonne. – I-Net Bridge