Technical / Economic Analysis of Bamboo Fiber in Pulp and Paper Manufacture Part I. Economics of growing bamboo in a plantation for biomass production

摘要

A Technical / Economic analysis of a bamboo plantation was developed, using best available literature sources, input from a plantation owner, and a common methodology of financial analysis for biomass plantations. Major financial drivers, in order of importance, were (1) Delivered price per BDT of bamboo chips received from a pulp producer (range of $70-$80 per BDT evaluated) (2); Bamboo growth rate (range of 10-25 Bone Dry Tons per Acre per Year); (3) Cost of land to the investor, $ per Acre (range of $800-$ 1,200 examined). Land purchase versus land rental was superior, all other parameters equal. Assuming a target return (100% Owner Equity) of 8%, only a few combinations met the target. Below a growth rate of 20 BDT/A/Y, only combinations with chip price >$80 per BDT met the target; at 20 BDT/A/Y, chip price >$75 per BDT and lowest land cost were satisfactory; at 25 BDT/A/Y, all combinations exceeded the hurdle rate. With a less ambitious financial target of 6%, many combinations are acceptable. Opportunities to improve the economics lie in tissue culture technology to improve the growth rate, especially the rate in the first three years after planting, so that first harvest (and revenue) comes earlier. Some combination of land rent in the early years and land ownership later is likely to improve plantation return.