VICE President (VP) Joice Mujuru has torched a storm after ordering the re-opening of Chisumbanje ethanol plant before it complies with the country's laws and directives given by a special cabinet committee last year. Green Fuels, in which businessman Billy Rautenbach has a major stake, ran into problems in 2011 and subsequently closed its plant, triggering an investigation by a cabinet committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
The committee made a number of observations and recommendations, culminating in the publication of a statutory instrument last month allowing for five percent mandatory blending of ethanol only for companies that are in partnership with the State. This was on realisation that government could not legislate mandatory blending for companies in which it has no interest.
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