China to pursue bioethanol

China is actively proceeding with its strategy to spread the use of bioethanol nationwide, with the Jilin, Liaoning and Anhui provinces already fully implementing the blending of bioethanol into automotive fuel. Chinas central government has approvesd four companies to produce bioethanol, including Jilin Fuel Ethanol and Anhui BBCA Biochemical, with total output capacity now topping 1 million tons per year, with almost 80% using corn as raw material. Chinese authorities are now drawing up alternative plans to use raw materials other than corn, such as rice husks and straw, after the government set a policy against the use of food crops for ethanol production. (May 31, 2007)