MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE — The US Grains Council (USGC), Pivot Clean Energy Company and the Mozambique Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that establishes a partnership to exchange technical expertise and best practices for biofuels and clean energy policy development.

Signed Feb. 29, the MOU was part of a high-level meeting convened by the USGC with US and Mozambican government officials, industry professionals and other stakeholders to discuss the benefits and challenges of using ethanol to meet clean energy goals in cooking and transportation for the nation in southeast Africa.

“Today’s conversation is critical to helping families in Mozambique use a healthier cooking fuel, which in turn provides cleaner air for everyone,” said Xochitl Torres Small, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) deputy secretary of Agriculture. “Using biofuels in cooking is one of many great examples of how agriculture provides real solutions to everyday challenges. As all of us face increased disaster, drought and other climate change impacts, USDA is committed to making a difference through viable, climate smart practices and sharing them with partners around the globe.”

Participants included Mozambique governmental representatives from the energy, environment and agriculture sectors, along with representatives from local fuel distributors, technology companies, national refineries, agro-industrial industries, oil and gas, finance, logistics and transportation.

Titled “Fueling Forward to Sustainable Energy,” the event focused on the use of ethanol (alcohol) for clean cooking. In pursuing ethanol burning stoves for household cooking that produce no soot or smoke, users can limit air-borne health risks and air pollution. 

Also discussed were topics including ethanol’s role in the global energy transition; ethanol’s contribution to greenhouse gas reduction; the ethanol production chain; ethanol pathways for domestic production; local clean cooking initiatives and standards applications, and regional challenges and opportunities towards ethanol policy.

“Through this MOU signing, the Council supports the Mozambique government in its pursuit of ethanol blending initiatives and clean cooking development,” said Mohamed Salah Bouthour, USGC deputy regional director – Africa. “This MOU seeks to further strengthen the relationship between biofuels experts from the United States and Mozambique governmental and private stakeholders. We offer a sincere thank you to MIREME, Pivot, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, local embassy staff and the US Department of Commerce for their continued partnership in this endeavor.”

In recent months, Mozambique has discussed strategies for producing clean energy to reduce pollution and costs in the import of fossil fuel. While the government of Mozambique has mandated that ethanol and biodiesel be blended with gasoline and diesel, it is still developing its standards and blending regulations. A 10% ethanol mandate exists in Mozambique, and the country has planned development of a strong oil and agriculture economy that expects to use biofuels to facilitate this growth.

Biofuel blending reforms will reduce the country’s reliance on fuel imports and create a market for Mozambique’s large agricultural sector to meet growing demand for biofuels.