Sao Paulo, Brazil, 15 Dec – French group Tereos Internacional and Brazilian energy company Petrobras Wednesday in Maputo signed a protocol of intentions with Mozambican state oil and gas company Petróleos de Moçambique (Petromoc) to study the feasibility of production and sale of ethanol in the East African country.

The protocol was signed by Guarani, a subsidiary of Tereos Internacional, which in its turn is controlled by French group Tereos Agro-Industrie, and by Petrobras Biocombustível, a subsidiary of Brazilian group Petrobras as well as by Petromoc.

Guarani partners Petrobras Biocombustível in a sugar production factory in Mozambique, Companhia do Sena, which has capacity to process 1.2 million tons of sugar cane. The protocol that was signed is intended to study the possibility of producing ethanol from the molasses produced at the factory.

The basis of this project is the introduction by the Mozambican government of legislation requiring a minimum of 10 percent ethanol in gasoline.

This measure will have a positive impact on reducing Mozambique’s dependence on imported fuel, thus contributing to energy security in the country, said the statement issued in Sao Paulo by Tereos Internacional. (macauhub)