Zimbabwe’s Biodiesel Output Jumps 2,400% as New Mutoko Plant Spurs Rural Growth

Biodiesel production in Zimbabwe is set for a major leap, with daily output expected to climb from 3,000 litres to 75,000 litres following the expansion of Finealt Engineering’s processing plant in Mutoko.

The development is being hailed as a milestone in the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation and modernisation agenda.

Finealt Engineering, a Government-supported enterprise operating under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, has been producing diesel from jatropha seeds for years. With the upgraded facility now in place, the company says it is ready to ramp up production, pending ZESA’s upgrade of the local power supply grid.

“We have installed all the necessary equipment, and we are simply waiting for ZESA to enhance the electricity supply so that full-scale operations can commence,” said acting chief executive Patrick Mpala.

The expanded plant will not only create employment but also guarantee a steady market for farmers supplying jatropha, sunflower, and other oilseeds. Finealt is already working on a 3,000-hectare jatropha plantation in Mudzi, with potential expansion to 6,000 hectares. However, Mpala stressed that the company will continue purchasing seed from smallholder farmers to keep communities actively engaged in the value chain.

The biodiesel produced is intended to replace imported petroleum diesel, with applications ranging from powering vehicles and agricultural machinery to serving as a cleaner, non-toxic solvent and lubricant.

Beyond biodiesel, Finealt Engineering has diversified into related industries. The company now manufactures cooking oil, soaps, detergents, and other bio-products. Leveraging sunflower production in Mudzi, the firm processes around 20 tonnes of seed daily, yielding more than 5,000 litres of cooking oil supplied to shops in Mutoko, Marondera, and Bindura.

A newly installed soap plant produces about 500 one-kilogram bars per hour or up to 2,000 tablets hourly. Detergents such as dishwashing liquid, toilet cleaner, and car wash solutions are also being rolled out, with strong uptake from local consumers.

Finealt has employed 69 people at the Mutoko site, with locals prioritised for job opportunities. A new plant is also being established in Chirumhanzu, Midlands Province, focused on cooking oil and stock feed production.

To cushion against power cuts, the company is planning to build a solar energy facility and has already drilled four solar-powered boreholes, which also benefit nearby communities.

The idea of using jatropha for biodiesel dates back to the early 2000s, but Finealt Engineering has emerged as a key player in translating the concept into practical output. The initiative aligns with President Mnangagwa’s call for “home-grown solutions” aimed at reducing imports and strengthening local industries in food, fuel, and household products.