In Indonesia, the Jakarta Post newspaper reports that despite plans to boost ethanol blending to 10% this year using domestically produced ethanol, challenges in sugarcane production will lead to further delays in implementation. Sugarcane yields have been falling over the past four years in East Java, the country’s key cane-growing region, which has led to […]
In Germany, while is true that plastics made from corn, wheat, or sugarcane are, in principle, climate-neutral and protect declining oil reserves—a broad shift in consumption from conventional to bio-based materials could be bad news for the environment given the current state of technology. After all, plant based raw materials are produced on land and […]
In Brazil, Reuters reports that “Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras cut gasoline prices at refineries in the country by almost 10% on Thursday, the first cut since last week’s oil price collapse, a move that could boost sugar production and reduce ethanol output.” The oil company, which has a near refining monopoly in Brazil, reduced […]
In Brazil, Renewables Now reports that BNDES has approved a $23 million loan for a biogas project collocated at a sugar mill owned by Cocal Energia. The project will use sugarcane straw, filter cake and vinasse to produce 33 million cubic meters per year of biogas, half of which will be used for 40,000 MWh […]
In India, the Press Trust of India reports that the government plans to use lands attached to mothballed sugarcane mills to grow more cane as feedstock for expanding ethanol production. The national transportation minister says the ethanol industry has the capacity to grow four-fold to more than $14 billion. He said the government has already […]
In Brazil, UNICA told Reuters that several large sugarcane milling groups are expanding ethanol production which would see an even smaller share of cane go towards sugar production. Last year, about 65% of cane went to ethanol production while this season it is likely closer to 75%. The new RenovaBio policy that focuses on achieving […]
In Brazil, Braskem and Ledesma have created Ledesma +Bio, a line of 100% sustainable notebooks made entirely from sugarcane. An innovation in the industry, the cover and back cover of the notebooks are made from bioplastics derived from I’m greenTM polyethylene. Meanwhile, the paper of the notebooks is made from sugarcane bagasse and has a […]
In Brazil, Reuters reports that harsh frosts over the weekend have hit sugarcane growing areas across the country, with Sao Martinho reporting as much as 12,000 hectares of its cane plantations have been impacted. The company said it expects impacts to be minor, however it is still evaluating. Mills across the country are surveying impacted […]
In South Africa, the Gledhow sugar mill used to produce just sugarcane products like refined sugar, but is diversifying into biofuel now that the South African government has been more supportive of biofuel from sugarcane. Since the government’s new sugar tax a year ago, there has been a surplus of sugarcane in South Africa that […]
In Brazil, Platts reports that rains in the main center-south sugarcane growing areas have created a tight supply situation for ethanol, pushing hydrous ethanol prices 18% higher during the first 11 days in April to $604.21 per cubic meter, a record high. One trader told Platts that he couldn’t source either hydrous or anhydrous for […]
