Potential ethanol plant earmarked in Barbados

A new ethanol plant has been mooted for construction in Barbados according to the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC).

The plant would use sweet potatoes as feedstock and convert them into ethanol.

Speaking at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association’s quarterly networking meeting, BIDC CEO Leroy McClean said: ‘I have a Chinese company awaiting a response from me that can build a turn-key operation at a cost of only $600,000 (€461,000). This is something that can be useful to Barbados.’

McClean adds that research has shown that sweet potatoes yield more ethanol than corn and requires less maintenance than sugarcane.