San Carlos Bioenergy invests in ethanol

The Philippines’ San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI) is planning to invest Php150 million (US$3.14 million) next year to boost its production to as much as 40 million liters per year (lpy) of ethanol. SCBI, which established the country’s first integrated fuel ethanol distillery and power cogeneration facility, has a capacity of 30 million lpy. At its current capacity, SCBI said it expects to displace 15% of the country’s imported petroleum, based on a 5% blending mandate to be implemented from 2009 to 2011. According to the company, it can increase production from 125,000 liters per day (lpd) to 150,000 lpd, with a few facility upgrades. (April 12, 2009)