Locally produced Medicinal Ethanol for Northern Mozambique
Northern Mozambique is rapidly preparing for a rising number of COVID-19 cases; there are already 131 cases in Cabo Delgado and increasing. Health units are being equiped with the necessary infrastructure and equipment to isolate and support patients with both moderate and severe symptoms. Personal protective equipment is being ordered and placed at different locations throughout the provinces. The need for disinfectants, especially chlorine-based products and medicinal ethanol, has escalated in preparation of the response. Even under normal conditions there is an enormous demand for these products; with Cabo Delgado having 130 health facilities, Niassa having more than 180, and Nampula, one of the most populated provinces, having more than 200 facilities. To date, the supply has entirely depended on imported goods. With it being said that this may not be the last COVID-19 crisis, there is an urgent need for a long term, sustainable local production solution for disinfectants.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Liechtenstein Development Service, in collaboration with Helvetas, therefore support EcoEnergia de Moçambique Lda. in its investment for the production of medicinal ethanol and hand sanitizer to respond to this demand. Already having had a previous plan to produce ethanol from raw material from the sugar and cashew production on their Ouro Verde site in Ocua, Chiure District, EcoEnergia have now decided to respond to the urgent needs by fast-tracking implementation three years ahead of time. The Secretary of State of Cabo Delgado Province, Prof Armindo Saul Atelela Ngunga, stressed the urgent need and importance for enterprises to join in the fight and produce essential products.
EcoEnergia will install a distillery that can produce at least 60,000 litres of medicinal alcohol per year. They have enough raw material, and sufficient infrastructure and personnel in place to produce this medicinal ethanol from sugar cane juice and cashew apple, as well as to add value to this by producing hand sanitisers using aloe vera and moringa, both of which are also available on the farm. The sale of cashew apples will provide a welcome additional income for the numerous cashew farmers in and around the Ouro Verde project, with whom the Liechtenstein Development Service funded AMCANE project collaborates with for improved cashew production and quality. Helvetas implements the AMCANE project in collaboration with Aga Khan Foundation and Pakka AG.
Helvetas will support health facilities in Cabo Delgado to have an initial direct supply of medicinal ethanol produced by EcoEnergia. The facilities will be selected in collaboration with the Provincial Health Department with whom Helvetas collaborates as part of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Cabo Delgado Health Promotion Project. This project has pledged support to the COVID-19 response in Cabo Delgado through support with personal protection equipment, rehabiltation of sanitation facilities in isolation units, and awareness and messaging campaigns in different districts. In the medium and long term, Helvetas will support EcoEnergia in the development of a supply network to supply health, education, industry, and corporate sectors in Northern Mozambique beyond COVID-19.
EcoEnergia has already started the process of importing the necessary equipment and hopes to be able to produce the first batch of medicinal ethanol as early as June 2020. Watch this space for updates and more insights into this project over the next 7 months!
