Ethanol awaits final recommendations

The Fiji Sugar Corporation is awaiting recommendations from Brazil on its initial feasibility study for ethanol production in the country.
FSC chairman Abdul Khan said Brazil is known to be the largest ethanol producing country in the world.
“The Brazilians are reviewing the findings (of the study) before they send it back to us for implementation,” Mr Khan said.
He said aspects of ethanol production would be reformed according to the recommendations of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).
“We will need to reform aspects of sugar production to incorporate the findings to be able to lift the ethanol project off the ground.”
According to a report by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) in 2012, more than half of world’s ethanol production is produced from sugar and sugar by products.
Technologically, the process of producing ethanol from sugar is simpler than converting corn into ethanol.
“The technology and direct energy costs are but one of several factors that determine the feasibility of ethanol production,” the report stated.
“Other factors include relative production costs (including feedstock), conversion rates, proximity to processing facilities, alternative prices and government policies, facility construction and processing costs.”
Fiji has show increased interest in the production of ethanol from sugar after other countries around the world proved it to be an economically feasible bi-product. – MINFO NEWS