The Philippine Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is currently drafting a plan that will take excess sugar produced by planters and match them with biofuel processors who wil then turn that into bioethanol. The plant is expected to be finished by next year.
According to the plan, SRA will match biofuel producers with sugar millers and planters for the purchase of sugar as feedstock.
2007-2008 sugar production in the Philippines was at a 25 year high which generated an excess of 150,000+ MT of class “D” sugar. Of that surplus, 80,000 MT of which were supplied to local ethanol processors. This export grade sugar is said to be storable for years so that it can be turned into bioethanol when needed.
The key thing to note here is that we are only talking about “excess” production, that which is surpassing the local demand for sugar. So I guess they should factor in, when local sugar prices go up, they should stop supplying the biofuel processors and shift that supply to the food market?
[source]
Category: Bioethanol
