Total to invest in Brazil cane for biochemicals

French oil group Total S.A. said it plans to enter Brazil’s sugarcane industry through its technology partner Amyris Inc. to produce a range of biochemicals. “We’ll produce (conventional cane) ethanol probably for some years but the intention in the end is to produce chemical products like biolubricants, jet biofuel, biochemicals, biodiesel out of sugarcane,” said Philippe Boisseau, president of Total Gas and Power. Total has a 22% share in Amyris, which has developed so-called second-generation biofuels technology. (December 22, 2010)