Guyana may need to make several changes to its existing laws so as to accommodate the possibility of producing and utilising ethanol and bio-fuels locally.
This disclosure was made by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy who said the ministry was being proactive by commencing an assessment to determine what changes may be necessary before any ethanol production gets underway.
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Dr Ramsammy said while ethanol continues to be one of the commodities in high demand on the international market, the government of Guyana has every intention of ensuring that some of the fuel is used by Guyanese if it is produced locally. The minister admitted that currently there is no legislative framework in place to guide the utilisation of ethanol locally.
“We would have to, now, for example, determine what percentage of ethanol is mixed with the fuel and gas that is sold at the fuel pumps,” he noted. He said the emphasis from government’s standpoint would be making the bio-fuel available locally and exporting the excess.
The agriculture minister could not say exactly what other changes may be needed, but stressed that whatever they were, they would receive considerable attention from the central government and other stakeholders once they were feasible and would assist in exploiting the benefits of ethanol.
Dr Ramsammy explained that if ethanol production commences here, Guyanese can expect a significant reduction in the country’s fuel import bill, which would see millions of dollars in foreign exchange being saved.
He was convinced that with exploration for oil, the construction of the new Amaila Falls hydro project, as well as the feasibility studies being undertaken by ANSA McAL with respect to ethanol production, the country looks poised for further economic and social transformation.
Asked about the status of engagements between the ANSA McAL Group of Companies and his administration as feasibility studies continued into the prospects of ethanol production, Dr Ramsammy said “meetings have been ongoing at various levels”.
He disclosed that already the ministries of agriculture and natural resources and environment have met with the officials from ANSA McAL, who are continuing feasibility work here. “I am aware that they have also met with officials from the Guyana Energy Agency and the Prime Minister’s Office… various private sector officials and other state agencies,” he said.
Dr Ramsammy has also disclosed that the government has put together a team to lend assistance to ANSA McAL which has invested a whopping TT$ 17 million in order to execute feasibility studies on an ethanol plant in Guyana.
“We have identified GuySuCo as a focal point because their initial interest is in producing sugar cane to fuel the ethanol plant and there is no one that knows more about sugar in the region than GuySuCo,” Dr Ramsammy remarked.
He confirmed that the ANSA McAL Group and government have identified possible locations for the construction of an ethanol plant.
“The number one site is the Canje Basin and there’s enough land there for the purposes that they would want,” Dr Ramsammy said, while clarifying that “no land has still been committed” or given over to the ANSA McAL group.
He said works at the feasibility level are progressing as scheduled, but did not divulge any significant information about the undertakings of the project. Dr Ramsammy reiterated that for long government wanted to exploit the opportunities available in the area of ethanol production, in keeping with its policy to diversify the agro-based economy.
He noted that the Memorandum of Understanding that governs the work of ANSA McAL has been made public and is available for scrutiny, and both parties have an avid interest in the production of ethanol.
The findings of the ethanol feasibility study are expected to be released by late November or early December, according to ANSA McAL officials who visited Guyana to clear the air on issues surrounding the project. If all goes well at the feasibility stages and Guyana can produce ethanol in a competitive way, ANSA McAL could invest some US$ 250 million in the construction of a world-class plant. This plant would have the capacity to produce between 40 million and 50 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Guyana may need to make several changes to its existing laws so as to accommodate the possibility of producing and utilising ethanol and bio-fuels locally.This disclosure was made by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy who said the ministry was being proactive by commencing an assessment to determine what changes may be necessary before any ethanol production gets underway.Dr Ramsammy said while ethanol continues to be one of the commodities in high demand on the international market, the government of Guyana has every intention of ensuring that some of the fuel is used by Guyanese if it is produced locally. The minister admitted that currently there is no legislative framework in place to guide the utilisation of ethanol locally.“We would have to, now, for example, determine what percentage of ethanol is mixed with the fuel and gas that is sold at the fuel pumps,” he noted. He said the emphasis from government’s standpoint would be making the bio-fuel available locally and exporting the excess. The agriculture minister could not say exactly what other changes may be needed, but stressed that whatever they were, they would receive considerable attention from the central government and other stakeholders once they were feasible and would assist in exploiting the benefits of ethanol.Dr Ramsammy explained that if ethanol production commences here, Guyanese can expect a significant reduction in the country’s fuel import bill, which would see millions of dollars in foreign exchange being saved.He was convinced that with exploration for oil, the construction of the new Amaila Falls hydro project, as well as the feasibility studies being undertaken by ANSA McAL with respect to ethanol production, the country looks poised for further economic and social transformation. Asked about the status of engagements between the ANSA McAL Group of Companies and his administration as feasibility studies continued into the prospects of ethanol production, Dr Ramsammy said “meetings have been ongoing at various levels”. He disclosed that already the ministries of agriculture and natural resources and environment have met with the officials from ANSA McAL, who are continuing feasibility work here. “I am aware that they have also met with officials from the Guyana Energy Agency and the Prime Minister’s Office… various private sector officials and other state agencies,” he said. Dr Ramsammy has also disclosed that the government has put together a team to lend assistance to ANSA McAL which has invested a whopping TT$ 17 million in order to execute feasibility studies on an ethanol plant in Guyana.“We have identified GuySuCo as a focal point because their initial interest is in producing sugar cane to fuel the ethanol plant and there is no one that knows more about sugar in the region than GuySuCo,” Dr Ramsammy remarked.He confirmed that the ANSA McAL Group and government have identified possible locations for the construction of an ethanol plant.“The number one site is the Canje Basin and there’s enough land there for the purposes that they would want,” Dr Ramsammy said, while clarifying that “no land has still been committed” or given over to the ANSA McAL group.He said works at the feasibility level are progressing as scheduled, but did not divulge any significant information about the undertakings of the project. Dr Ramsammy reiterated that for long government wanted to exploit the opportunities available in the area of ethanol production, in keeping with its policy to diversify the agro-based economy.He noted that the Memorandum of Understanding that governs the work of ANSA McAL has been made public and is available for scrutiny, and both parties have an avid interest in the production of ethanol.The findings of the ethanol feasibility study are expected to be released by late November or early December, according to ANSA McAL officials who visited Guyana to clear the air on issues surrounding the project. If all goes well at the feasibility stages and Guyana can produce ethanol in a competitive way, ANSA McAL could invest some US$ 250 million in the construction of a world-class plant. This plant would have the capacity to produce between 40 million and 50 million gallons of ethanol annually.
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