China becomes world’s third largest fuel ethanol producer

China has become the world’s third largest fuel ethanol producer, with the fast development of the country’s biomass energy industry. Since concerns over food security is greatly curbing the growth of fuel ethanol output in China, the Chinese government is exerting major efforts in producing non-grain fuel ethanol from straws, cassava, and bagasse. A 200,000-ton cassava fuel ethanol plant owned by the COFCO Group has begun operations in Guangxi. (August 24, 2010)