Share

Green charcoal production the cards

accreditation
iStock

Mpumalanga cane growers may soon have a new green charcoal product in retail shops made from sugar cane biomass, the Business Day reported on Tuesday.

"The problem is that this reservoir was untapped," Justin Murray, grower affairs manager for the Mpumalanga Cane Growers Association said.

"We are developing an innovative and scalable technology to increase growers' revenue and to generate some value from this biomass."

Growers were eager to find alternative usage for sugar cane biomass because the sugar industry was in trouble, Murray said.

The cane growing sector had not made an economic return in a decade and growers were exiting the industry.

A market for fibre would improve revenue.

After several tests using torrefaction technology, the association believed an opportunity existed to establish and run a pilot plant at the cost of R20m, which would offer sugar cane farmers a market for their business.

The technology has been developed through efforts between Stellenbosch University, Tshwane University of Technology and engineering company Aurecon.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE