July 18, 2007

 

China to build or convert ethanol plants to use non-corn ingredients

 

 

In the next five years, China would work to shift biofuels production from its reliance on corn to other crops such as sorghum, cassava and sweet potato, according to Xiong Bilin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission's (NDRC) industry department.

 

Xiong told China Daily that Beijing is still hoping to develop bio-fuel without harming general food supply and security despite its worries over energy needs supplanting that of food production.

 

Cassava and sweet potato both are high-yield plants, and though edible, they are not used as staple food.

 

To work towards the goal, China, is converting four major ethanol production centres which have a combined output of 1 million tonnes, to use non-grain ingredients as raw materials. 

 

Xiong said the conversion would neither be too complicated nor costly.

 

The four plants, along with the newly approved ones, will use sorghum, cassava and sweet potato to substitute for corn.

 

China is also planning to build its largest ethanol production facility. The facility in Hengshui in Hebei Province is expected to yield 300,000 tonnes of bio-fuel, mainly from sweet potato, every year.

 

Another new ethanol-making facility in Jingmen, Hubei Province would make 200,000 tonnes of ethanol from sweet potato plants each year.

 

China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs (COFCO) will be the major investor in both the projects.

 

China wants to increase its ethanol production from 1 million tons a year to 2 million tons in 2010, and 10 million tons by 2020.

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