Chisumbanje — The Chisumbanje ethanol producing concern Green Fuel has pledged to address the sticky issues that will eventually see the gazetting of a statutory instrument to enforce mandatory blending of fuel.

Five months after Cabinet approved mandatory blending, the statutory instrument to enforce it is still to be gazetted.

Minister of Energy and Power Development Elton Mangoma says he will not facilitate the gazetting of the instrument to enforce mandatory blending as long as Green Fuel has not laid down key pre-conditions.

In a statement last week the Chisumbanje District Ethanol committee handling the matter said it reached a consensus on the immediate release of farmers arrested over land issue.

They agreed to develop an irrigation scheme for the community sponsored by the company.

About 0,5 hectares sponsored by the ethanol firm for each farmer was adopted as an interim arrangement while the committee finalised an irrigation model to cover two hectares.

The community also resolved to finalise its position on the mandatory blending statutory instrument. It also pledged to work together in a mutually beneficial environment over social responsibility matters.

"Initially, there was no dialogue but now there is engagement between the company and the community representative committee," reads part of the statement by the Chisumbanje ethanol committee.