by Grace Chekai
HydroCraft Projects Africa (HCPA) Pvt Limited has expressed interest to venture into a renewable energy project through harvesting the hyacinth plant (Eichhornia Crassipes) found at Lake Chivero.
The hyacinth will be mixed with poultry waste from Drummond Chickens to produce liquid organic fertiliser (LOF) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Harare Post has learnt.
A contact who spoke to this publication has revealed this development explaining that CNG is a fuel that can be used in place of petrol, diesel and LPG.
HCPA is reportedly working with Drummond Chicken and Blitz Tech Electronics as development partners.
The contact said the recent expression of interest by HCPA was the second one after the first, which was delivered in November 2019, to the then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Ringson Chitsiko. He said the company had already submitted its expression of interests to the ministry of agriculture.
He said the project would also include a 50 MW solar photovoltaic plant.
“The project will also include a 50 MW Solar Photovoltaic Plant to be located at Hunyani Estate near Norton. The project is expected to cost US$ 100 million,” said the contact.
HCPA is a Gweru based engineering and Energy Company, whose mandate encompasses water management and renewable energy technologies.
Contact revealed that the company was owned by John Makotsi, a Mining Engineer and Engineer Rejoice Mvalo, an Engineering Technician with equal shareholding.
He added that the company intended to partner with Julong (Private) Limited, a Chinese company, which is currently carrying weed harvesting in Tana Dam, Ethiopia and Lake Victoria, Uganda. Blitz Tech Electronic owned by Einstein Makuyana.
Contact said Drummond Poultry produced 260 tonnes of litter per month from the poultry production, which will go towards the proposed organic fertiliser production.
Harvesting of the hyacinth will control the spread and growth of the troublesome weed resulting in the unclogging of water supply intakes and unblocking of canals and rivers rendering them navigable and preventing floods. It will also increase the transfer of oxygen from the air to the water surface, thereby increasing water quality. In addition, there are opportunities for employment creation for the locals.
