Brazil ethanol production could be more efficient

By Inae Riveras

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil is already the world's most efficient ethanol producer but could still greatly improve productivity by using state-of-the-art technology, a leading equipment supplier said on Wednesday.

Only 40 percent of Brazilian cane mills produce sugar and ethanol efficiently, and only 5 percent are able to take advantage of energy cogeneration efficiencies, said Jose Luiz Oliverio, senior operational vice president of Dedini Industrias de Base.

"Not even the new mills being installed are choosing the best levels of efficiency that we offer," he told Reuters during its Global Biofuel Summit.

"That means that it would be very simple for Brazilians to raise efficiency in the process."

Analysts estimate that Brazilian cane ethanol on average yields over 8 times more energy than is put into the production process, compared with U.S. corn ethanol production that yields between 1.1 to 1.7 times as much energy.

If the 357 sugar and ethanol mills operating in Brazil, to all of which Dedini supplies equipment, were to improve their technology, energy yield averages would be even greater.

Dedini is currently installing 43 new mills in Brazil and will soon begin construction on 55 more projects that have already received final approval from the companies to go ahead.

Dedini is being consulted about the construction of another 189 mills, said Oliverio, who expects that about half of those projects will be executed.  Continued...