San Carlos Bioenergy inaugurates ethanol plant

Southeast Asia’s first sugarcane-based ethanol and cogeneration plant which was inaugurated on September 4 will help wean the Philippines away from dependence on fossil fuels, officials said. The Php 3-billion (US$61.96 million) San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI) facility will produce nearly 40 million liters of ethanol annually, representing about 10% of the nation’s ethanol requirements. “This is a major milestone in the government’s effort to reduce dependency on imported sources of energy, and to have energy security coupled with social equity and environmental sustainability,” said Philippine Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. (September 5, 2009)