Engineer Mercy Manyuchi, Chairperson of the Chemical and Process Systems Engineering department has been nominated for the 2015/2016 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Her project is on the Production of 'Motocharcoal' briquettes from agricultural waste for use as a heating source.
The project seeks to produce briquettes from agricultural waste (saw dust, vegetables, cow dung, corn stover). The briquettes have a higher heating value than wood and coal and have low carbon emissions. The project seeks to address deforestration, especially for the rural communities as well as possible employment creation through waste management. Furthermore, the briquettes will provide alternative energy source for schools, hotels and even the manufacturing industry
Zimbabwe produces about 480,000 tonnes of corn waste every year, from which bio-briquettes can be produced as an affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply.
"As an upcoming female Engineer and technoprenuer, I was humbled by the nomination and I believe I am going to make a difference especially to the young children and mothers who are in constant need of clean energy every day," said Manyuchi.
Out of 12 nominees, Manyuchi is the only Zimbabwean. For the next 6 months (October 2015-March 2016), the nominees will go through entrepreneurship training, after which each nominee must have developed their idea to the commercialisation stage.
The Africa Prize, now in its second year, is Africa's largest award dedicated to engineering innovation. It covers all engineering disciplines from mechanical, civil and computing to agricultural, biomedical, oil and gas, mining and electronics.