The production of sugarcane and ethanol result in 200,000 jobs, that is, more than 3,000 independent farmers and 5,000 families producing artisanal alcohol in the Sierra area, according to the Association of Biofuels of Ecuador (Apale).
The cycle of the harvest begins on July 1, but some mills are ahead in the process that culminates in December.
And investments have been generated in these two products for more than $250 million.
“It is important to note that biofuels represent one of the main alternatives to diversify the country’s energy matrix and promote the growth of Ecuadorian agribusiness, so the national production of ethanol promotes sustainable mobility in Ecuador,” the statement said.
In this year’s harvest it is expected to produce 9 million bags of sugar and 110 million liters of ethanol that will be used in the production of biofuels, raw material necessary for the production of Ecopaís gasoline, and which is also used for the manufacture of sanitizing products.
Apale mentions that only the use of fuel ethanol in gasoline makes it possible to dispense with up to 15% of the use of high-octane naphtha.
“This allows significant savings for the State, by reducing the cost of producing gasoline and above all prevents the outflow of capital, something very important for a dollarized economy; including the use of ethanol anhydrous fuel, allows the use of 11% more low octane naphtha, giving value to this component of local production”, according to Apale.
The Biofuels Association of Ecuador brings together the distilleries Codana, Producargo and Soderal, belonging to the Valdez, Coazúcar and San Carlos sugar mills. (I)
