Cassava bioethanol plant opens in China
China-based Hainan Yedao Group has reportedly invested $51.5 million (41.1 million Euros) in a new biofuel facility to produce 33 million gallons a year of bioethanol from cassava plants.
The plans follow recent moves from the Beijing government to ban the use of grain-based energy crops in bioethanol, amid concerns demand had led to a decline in food supplies.
Cassava avoids the ban as it is a root vegetable that represents China's fifth-largest crop yield after rice, sweet potato, sugarcane and maize.
The Guangxi region, adjacent to the plantâ??s location, accounts for 70% of the country's yield, averaging 7 million tonnes a year.
China's Beihai Gofar Marine Biological Industry has also announced plans for a 100,000 tonne a year cassava-based ethanol plant in the Guangxi region.
The government has signalled its support for the biofuel sector, with 10 of the country's 22 provinces in China mandating the use of ethanol-blended petrol in cars.
The plans follow recent moves from the Beijing government to ban the use of grain-based energy crops in bioethanol, amid concerns demand had led to a decline in food supplies.
Cassava avoids the ban as it is a root vegetable that represents China's fifth-largest crop yield after rice, sweet potato, sugarcane and maize.
The Guangxi region, adjacent to the plantâ??s location, accounts for 70% of the country's yield, averaging 7 million tonnes a year.
China's Beihai Gofar Marine Biological Industry has also announced plans for a 100,000 tonne a year cassava-based ethanol plant in the Guangxi region.
The government has signalled its support for the biofuel sector, with 10 of the country's 22 provinces in China mandating the use of ethanol-blended petrol in cars.
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