Company History and Profile
In 2005, at a critical juncture characterised by skyrocketing oil prices and a heightened awareness around climate change, Mabele Fuels was founded with the vision of pioneering the biofuels industry in South Africa. We embarked on a mission to construct South Africa’s first large-scale bioethanol plant, signalling our unwavering commitment towards enabling sustainable energy solutions.
Our plant, set to become operational in the third quarter of 2028, will have a nameplate production capacity of 162.75 million litres of bioethanol annually. It will serve as a strategic fuel asset, leading to greater fuel security for South Africa.
Utilising grain sorghum as the primary feedstock, our bioethanol production will revitalise the South African grain sorghum farming industry, which has witnessed a significant decline over the past two decades. By prioritising procurement from local farmers, especially black emerging and commercial farmers, we aim to bring about a renaissance in grain sorghum farming, and boost the agricultural sector as a whole, thereby fostering employment and greater economic activity in agriculture and related local industries.
Beyond bioethanol, our production process offers a spectrum of beneficial by-products including Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, food-grade carbon dioxide (CO₂), biofertilizer, and a gateway to carbon emission offsets, illustrating our holistic approach to green energy production.
Our pathway has been guided and shaped by significant regulatory milestones that govern the biofuels industry in South Africa. The inaugural Biofuels Industrial Strategy unveiled in 2007 laid the foundational blueprint for the sector, a vision brought closer to reality with the enactment of the Mandatory Blending of Biofuels with Petrol and Diesel regulations in 2015, steering the nation towards a sustainable future. This regulatory landscape was further fortified with the introduction of the comprehensive Biofuels Regulatory Framework and the National Biofuels Feedstock Protocol in early 2020, providing a robust policy environment that governs our operations and ensures alignment with national objectives and standards.
Embarking on this journey is more than a venture for us: it is a pledge to not only advance South Africa’s position in the global green energy sphere but to foster community development and empowerment. As we uphold a legacy of innovation and sustainability, we eagerly anticipate fostering a brighter and greener future for generations to come.
