http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15593/story.htm Planet Ark : Chinese discuss possible Brazil ethanol imports
BRAZIL: April 22, 2002 RIO DE JANEIRO - Chinese sugar industry executives from the northeastern state of Heilongjiang are visiting Brazil to investigate the production and possible import of sugar cane-based fuel alcohol (ethanol), a Sao Paulo Cane Agroindustry Union (Unica) official said last week. "They are observing how Brazil implements its fuel alcohol program," the Unica official said by phone from the organization's Sao Paulo headquarters, adding that the Chinese were interested in logistics. Brazil, the world's largest sugar cane producer, launched the Pro-Alcohol programme in the mid-1970s in a bid to reduce dependence on oil imports and risk of soaring prices. Brazil, which has just started harvesting what is expected to be a record cane crop, is seeking new export markets for its fuel alcohol. Unica estimates that most of a forecast 28 million tonnes increase in cane output will be crushed into fuel alcohol rather than sugar. Heilongjiang, which started testing the use of anhydrous alcohol in motor vehicles last July, plans to start commercial production in 2003. "Chinese gasoline demand is rising fast and they are worried about the cost of imports and air pollution in the cities. They also want to boost agriculture," said the Unica official, who accompanied the Chinese during talks with sugar companies in Sao Paul on Tuesday. Although China is the world's third largest ethanol producer, after Brazil and the United States, output is mostly corn-based and destined for industrial or direct human consumption. The Chinese mission was in Brasilia on Wednesday for talks with government officials. REUTERS NEWS SERVICE ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/9bTolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuels at Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel at WebConX http://www.webconx.com/2000/biofuel/biofuel.htm To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
