After a 30-year break Angola is back to growing sugarcane for biofuel production.
Angolan government adopted this program to revive country’s agriculture after several decades of civil war and to make the economy less dependent on extractive industries (oil and diamond ones). The $220-million project will be implemented by Angolan oil company Sonagol, Damer private company and Odebrecht Brazilian construction organization.
The country currently imports 100% of the consumed sugar, but soon the situation will change and at least a small part of that amount will be produced inside of the country.
The agricultural boom and transmission of Luanda (Angolan capital) production capacities to other regions will help to create tens of thousands of new jobs. The central part of the project is a new sugar-works that will produce 280,000 tons of sugar and 30,000 m3 of ethanol. Sugarcane fiber, leaves and other waste left after the production of sugar will be used for generating 217 MW of electricity per year.
Brazil has been a world leader of sugarcane production for many yeas. India, China, Pakistan and Mexico are next in the ranking. Sugarcane cultivation requires (sub) tropical climate and 600 mm of precipitations per year. The yield of the sugarcane in regions where it dominates among other crops (like Hawaii) makes up to 20 kg from a square meter.
Archive for September, 2009
Angola Will Grow Sugarcane for Biofuel Production
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009By 2020 1/5 of Australian electricity will be generated from green sources
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009Australian authorities have approved a bill stipulating that by 2020 the country will receive 20 % of total energy mix from renewable sources.
The bill’s draft was voted for in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
The former government’s plans in 2001 were much more modest – 5% of energy derived from renewables by 2020. However, the new act is not widely supported. Senator Bob Brown, the head of “green” opposition party Australian Greens, for example, thinks that solar, wind and hydro power should bring no less than 30 of the country’s total energy mix. According to him, this objective is able to attract about 31 billion if Australian dollar investments ($26 billion) into green energy sector, and will allow to create 26 thousand jobs for Australian people.
Act’s critics claim it may cause Australian electricity process soaring, as the consumption will grow and greenhouses gases emissions won’t reduce. Even if 20% of country’s energy mix are generated from renewables, carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 will still exceed 2000 rates by 20%.
Currently, Australia receives 8% of energy from solar, wind and hydro power. Early in July the local authorities approved the first stage of 600-turbine wind power plant near Broken Hill in New Southern Wales. In its full capacity, the plant will be able to cover energy needs of 430,000 households. Moreover, the highest capacity plant is going to be built in Australia. Tender for its construction will be announced this year, its winner will start the construction in the first half of 2010.