initiative to turn waste into bio-energy
15 February 2008

A Southern and Eastern Cape company, Zero Waste Initiatives SA (Zwisa), says it is ready to launch its rural and urban bio-energy products (gas/electricity) to help South Africa alleviate its national energy crisis while at the same time creating tens of thousands of jobs and empowering entrepreneurs.

Zwisa concepts involve using human and animal waste as an eco-friendly electricity and bio-fuel alternative, an initiative that could revolutionise how the country deals with its power problems.

At present Zwisa is negotiating with municipalities and the agricultural sector to implement its multi-faceted zero waste system.

David Abel, one of four partners based in George, East London and Cape Town respectively, said the private sector company had been co-operating with two leading academic institutions that had 10 years of basic research into bio-energy from algae.

The micro-algae are cultured in ponds and form methane (natural) gas, which is harnessed into electricity and bio-diesel.

Abel said there was an international race to produce commercially viable bio-diesel made from plant sources such as the chlorella micro-algae. Abel said the alternative bio-fuels were environmentally friendly and could be an ecological bonus for municipalities providing (green) fuel and gas for their cities or towns.

Cathy Dippnall, www.theherald.co.za