USD 12 million will be allocated in 2015 to increase the ethanol production

In 2015, the sugar factory San Carlos and SODERAL plan to start a strategic alliance for $ 12 million to increase their production capacity of anhydrous alcohol 2.8 times more than what is currently produced, which is 7.2 million liters.

“Additional areas of cane sugar will be implemented in 1500 farming lands for anhydrous alcohol, no hectares for sugar production will be touched. For 2016, Petroecuador we will be able to sell around 25 million of alcohol (liters),” said Mariano González, President of San Carlos to El Comercio newspaper.

Gonzalez said that due to low sugar prices in the international market, local production of sugar can not grow.

“100 sugar factories have been closed in Brazil because international prices are predatory. Energy production from bagasse and production of fuel ethanol for blending with gasoline are part of the diversification strategy we need, so, for us the government plan of biofuels is a hope for better days in the immediate future and long term for all small and medium farmers,” he said.