Ethanol plant for Guyana
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| Published on Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana’s move to find innovative ways of meeting the nation’s energy demands and agricultural diversification, has received a boost with an ethanol plant to be constructed by Global Energy Ventures.
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| Percival J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and current President of the Regional and International Consultancy (Heisconsults) and representatives of Global Energy Ventures |
This disclosure stemmed from a meeting at the Office of the President, involving the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo, Percival J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and current President of the Regional and International Consultancy (Heisconsults) and representatives of Global Energy Ventures.
Patterson has been cited by the Head of State for playing a key role in setting the stage for the investment by the energy company.
“All of the country knows about his commitment to Caribbean development and Prime Minister Patterson, even at the level of the Heads of Government was always involved in developmental issues. I think because of his current work in Jamaica, he saw the opportunity of getting a firm that is interested in ethanol production to come to Guyana. So we had discussions around those issues and we are going to follow it up.”
President Jagdeo said the venture is a private one and noted that such an undertaking would open endless economic benefits for Guyana.
“This could add a new sector to the economy. It could create thousands of jobs and therefore, we decided this may be an appropriate use of land along the Coast and possibly in the intermediate savannahs.”
The Head of State said the development of an ethanol plant is not a new idea and the Government has been engaged in lengthy discussions in the past, on the feasibility and economic benefits from such a venture.
He said “We have embarked on this project for a quite while now and almost a year-and-a-half we have been having discussions with a number of groups as to whether we will go ahead with an ethanol project.”
Jagdeo noted that a follow-up will be undertaken with those who expressed an interest in investing in ethanol production, to determine “which one will have the best deal for Guyana”.
The expansion of sugarcane production for the new factory at Skeldon will increase the output of the sugar factory and additional cane crops will be utilised to produce ethanol.
With world oil prices unstable, developing alternative sources is no longer an option but an imperative, especially for developing countries.
Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel produced from renewable crops like corn and sugarcane and its use has long been advocated to curb dependence on foreign oil and reduce monoxide emission.
It is also used in perfumes, alcoholic beverages, medial wipes and in antibacterial hand sanitizing gels as an antiseptic.
Other alternative power sources being explored by Government are hydro-power, solar, wind and bio-diesel. |
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