San Miguel to build ethanol plants

Philippine food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. plans to invest between Php16 and 20 billion (US$352-440 million) in putting up 10 ethanol plants around the Philippines, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said. Zubiri told reporters that company officials informed him of the plan. Among the areas they are looking at is Tarlac, where the company is negotiating to convert Azucarera de Tarlac into an ethanol plant, the senator said. The company was earlier reported to be eyeing a 22,000-hectare agricultural land in Bago City, Negros Occidental. (September 14, 2007)