The Colombian Agriculture Ministry has said the country will invest US$20m dollars in a bio-ethanol plant.
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The complex will be located near to Sincelejo, capital city of Sucre department (in the country’s north) and will process ethanol from yucca, a tuber similar to cassava. Crops will be grown by two dozen farmers’ associations.
The plant will be active in 18 months and will join others who are already processing ethanol from sugar cane and beetroot. Construction will begin next February.
The national government has also announced it is planning to install three other yucca plants around the country. To date, there are five plants processing 1.05 million litres / year.
Some 10% of ethanol was added to gasoline one year ago by national law.
Nevertheless, Congressman Hugo Serrano criticised ethanol use because this fuel has not reduced the gasoline price, one of the justifications used by the government to help pass the law through congress.
Both gasoline and sugar prices are steadily growing since implementation because there’s not enough crop to meet demand.
Juan Vargas
