POTENTIAL FOR FUEL ETHANOL IN THE GUYANA SUGAR INDUSTRY

摘要

Sugar cane in Guyana is cultivated along the Atlantic Coast on some 50 000 ha. Annual production is between 320 000 to 350 000 tonnes from 8 mills. Domestic consumption is 35 000 tonnes. The industry is, as a consequence, heavily dependent on exports. The industry is only profitable at the preferential prices at which the major proportion of its production is currently sold. The industry has embarked on a number of initiatives aimed at improving productivity of sugar production. These include a programme of modernisation of plant and modest area expansion, which is expected to increase production to 475 000 tonnes by 2010. Central to this plan is the construction of a new 8400 TCD sugar factory that will replace a 2200 TCD mill. The new project will include an appended refinery and a rum distillery. There is no plan for the other units of the industry apart from more efficient production of raw sugar. This study is directed at exploring various options for the potential of sugarcane as a source of energy and sugar in a production unit extending over 10 000 ha and with a milling capacity of 4600 TCD. These include co-generation for electricity and production of anhydrous ethanol for fuel. The production of anhydrous alcohol from molasses for gasohol containing up to 10% ethanol is potentially advantageous for the Guyana sugar industry, given the low prices currently paid for molasses, likely lower prices received for raw sugar production above 300 000 tonnes, and the fact that all petroleum products are imported