The bill presented by the Executive Branch of Costa Rica to transform the state refinery Recope empowers the State to make alliances with private companies and "incursion into alternative chemical energy", but maintains the monopoly of fossil fuels.
On April 8, 2019, the Alvarado administration presented an initiative before the Legislative Assembly that seeks to transform the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) into the Costa Rican Company of Alternative Fuels and Energies (Ecoena).
SMEs in developing countries could generate jobs and significant growth by taking advantage of the market opportunities offered by clean technologies.
From a report by the World Bank:
SMEs in developing countries could generate significant growth and jobs if they take advantage of market opportunities that offer clean technologies, which reach up to $1.6 trillion.
The recently passed amendment to the law defines as a priority the use and import of raw materials for the production of biofuels and provides a new price for electricity generated from forest biomass.
LAW FOR THE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF BIOFUEL
"ARTICLE 12 -. Raw materials and biomass for biofuel production and domestic biofuels have priority for use over imported raw materials, biomass or biofuels in market conditions.
Colombian and Spanish investors are analyzing the construction of a plant for $2 billion to produce ethanol for export, as well as supplying the local market.
Currently a company founded with Colombian Spanish capital is analyzing the possibility of producing ethanol using hard coal. The project, which would involve an investment of $2 billion, could be developed on 50 hectares located in the district of Parita, near the boundaries of the National Park Sarigua.
In 2012 there were 65 million gallons of ethanol, 80% of which were exported for the development of biofuels, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The remaining 20% (13 million gallons), remained in the country and was used for the production of alcoholic beverages. One of the industries specializing in the production of alcohol as fuel "is the Bio-Ethanol Distillery, which produces neutral anhydrous ethyl using molasses.
In El Salvador, the Lempa River’s Executive Hydroelectricity Committee has announced a tender for a feasibility study to identify alternatives for the location of the project.
The study will include the identification of alternatives for the project location, quantification and characterization of wastewater and organic solid waste, identification of alternative technologies for the potential production of biogas and electricity in at least four strategic points in the basin, estimation of the investments required and analysis of the project’s economic, environmental and social benefits.
Despite the decrease in the last two years, a rebound is expected towards the end of 2011.
A reduction in the production of sugar cane and molasses was one of the main reasons for decreased production of ethanol, and consequently exports.
Guatemala is the largest exporter of ethanol in Central America, with 1.5 million liters being produced per day. It is followed by Nicaragua with 80 thousand liters per day, Costa Rica, 360 000, Panama, 160 000, and El Salvador with 120,000.
Researchers have tested fifteen varieties of sweet sorghum to see which gives better results, because traditionally it has only been used in cold climates where only one crop a year can be grown.
Using sweet sorghum to produce ethanol would be an alternative option for Panama helping it to not be so dependent on international oil prices. Preliminary studies have already been conducted.
Whey, coffee and banana waste are some forms of agro-industrial waste which can be used to produce ethanol.
Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) can be obtained from any organic material containing sugar. The challenge lies in making a commercially viable operation, reaching a level of economic efficiency which has so far been only achieved at large scale sugar cane facilities.
The upcoming visit by President Lula will be the stage for discussing Brazil’s cooperation in boosting Ethanol production in the country.
When oil prices where above $100, Brazil and the United States signed an “Understanding Memorandum” to boost bio-fuel production. In it, they identified El Salvador as the beneficiary of three-way cooperation, as it has adequate conditions for developing an ethanol industry.
The plant is presented as "one of the best alternatives" for producing ethanol.
"Even considering its limitations, growing Jatropha curcas L. is one of the best alternatives for producing biodiesel" in the hemisphere, assured Jamil Macedo, Coordinator of an regional agro energy network.
According to Macedo, using Jatropha for biodiesel production carries several benefits: "its seeds have great performance producing high quality oils; it is perennial (no need for yearly renewing each plantation) and highly adaptable; and it has no food value, so it doesn't compete with food agriculture".
Orange scraps show the promise of producing ethanol at reasonable prices and Central America, a leading producer of citrus, can benefit.
For several years, the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture in the United States has been carrying out a project to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of producing ethanol from orange juice processing leftovers which are now almost given away.
Five local production projects for ethanol have been identified by the US office for economic policy.
Later on the search for investors interested in the renewable energy projects.
According to the coordinator of the bureau for affairs in the western hemisphere of the US State Department, Matthew M. Rooney, the energy projects are feasible and will provide good returns for investors.
“Facing Energy Security in the Americas through Agroenergy Sources” is the topic of the keynote presentation, next Tuesday, October 28.
Roberto Rodrigues, co-president of the Inter-American Ethanol Commission and a former agriculture minister of Brazil, will deliver this topic for the thirtieth conference in the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Lecture Series of the Americas next Tuesday, October 28.
The United States Government made the announcement to the companies that carried out feasibility studies.
Via tender, Arkel Sugar and Delta-T corporations will be in charge of evaluating the technical aspects of producing and storing ethanol, as well as the possibility of selling electricity to the network. Meanwhile, Energy Secure will take on the logistical aspects, production costs, environmental impact and promoting internal commercialization.