CHA-43-2026-TAN: Starch and Ethanol Production Plant Project in Tanzania
Terms of Reference (ToR) for Stage 1: Feedstock and Technology Options Study
Background
An investor intends to establish an alcohol production plant in Tanzania with an initial capacity of 500,000 liters per month, expandable to 1,000,000 liters per month. The project will rely on crops widely cultivated in Tanzania, such as cassava, maize, sugarcane molasses, or sweet sorghum. However, at this stage, the feedstock to rely on is not clear; hence the study. Furthermore, before detailed engineering and investment design are undertaken, the investor requires a comparative assessment of potential feedstocks, by-products value chains, and associated technologies.
Objectives
The objectives of Stage 1 are to:
- Identify the most suitable crop feedstock for starch and ethanol production in Tanzania.
- Compare technical, economic, and supply-chain implications of different feedstocks.
- Assess technology pathways required for each feedstock.
- Propose the most suitable location for a plant, with reference to Arusha as the main market for the ethanol.
- Provide a recommendation on the preferred feedstock and technology platform for the proposed plant(s).
Scope of Work
Task 1 – Agricultural Feedstock Assessment
Assess crops such as cassava, maize, sugarcane molasses and sweet sorghum. Evaluate production volumes, geographic distribution, seasonality, yields, and competing uses.
Task 2 – Feedstock Supply Chain Analysis
Analyse farm-gate prices, transport logistics, storage needs, farmer aggregation models, production expansion possibilities through farmer out growers models, and supply risks.
Task 3 – Ethanol Yield Analysis
Estimate ethanol yields per ton of feedstock and determine feedstock quantities required for 500,000 L/month and 1,000,000 L/month production capacities.
Task 4 – Technology Pathway Assessment
Evaluate processing technologies for each of the best three feedstock including milling, saccharification, fermentation, distillation and dehydration.
Task 5 – Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis
Develop a comparison matrix evaluating feedstock options using criteria such as yield, availability, price stability, technology complexity, CAPEX implications, and supply chain risk.
Task 6 – Regulatory Context
Review relevant Tanzanian regulations relating to alcohol production, taxation, agricultural policy, and ethanol markets.
Task 7 – Final Recommendation
Provide a clear recommendation on the preferred feedstock and technology pathway.
Deliverables
- Pre-feasibility report
- Feedstock comparison matrix
- Technology options overview
- Recommended feedstock and technology pathway
- Preliminary cost indicators
Duration
Estimated duration: 2 weeks for stage 1 and 4 weeks for stage 2. It is expected that stage 1 is a desktop study. Stage 2 may include field work.
Consultant Team
The consulting team should include the following experts: (a) Agro-economist; (b) fermentation technologist and/or process engineer with experience in the starch/ethanol processing industry; (c) financial analyst; (d) environmental specialist. Alternatively, it should demonstrate that they have the associated skills and experience in the full spectrum of the ethanol production industry. In any case, for stage 1, (a), (b), and (c) are critical.
Upon acceptance of deliverables in stage 1, the company plans to continue with the Consultant to stage 2. However, it is up to the investor to decide to continue to stage 2 of the project, and if so, who to continue with.
How to participate
Send the following by 5 pm, Friday, 13th March, 2026, to admin@originlabsafrica.org with the subject indicated as: CHA-43-2026-TAN: Starch and Ethanol Plant Project in Tanzania:
- (a) two-page brief of the consulting team with VCVs of two lead members; or, (b) if you do not have a consulting team, indicate your experience, and the Origin platform will propose to you other possible solvers, interested in the project that you can work with.
- A proposed workplan to conduct and complete stage 1 work.
- A proposed budget not exceeding Kes200,000 (in words two-hundred thousand shillings only), including taxes.
Selection
The Origin Research and Innovation Labs – Physical Hub of East Africa, administration team will evaluate and recommend to the investor the best team or team(s) for approval to conduct the study.
