Vietnam needs 1.2 million tons of cassava for ethanol plants

Vietnam estimates they will need 1.2 million tons of cassava a year to produce ethanol from now through 2015. Currently, the country operates three ethanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 250 million liters. The state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and its affiliates will put into operation three more ethanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 300 million liters by July 2011. Vietnam’s demand for ethanol is forecast to hit 300 million liters in 2012, 457 million liters in 2015, 687 million liters in 2020 and one billion liters in 2025. PetroVietnam plans to use ethanol for producing 4.8 million cubic meters of bio-gasoline by end-2011 and an additional 2.37 million cubic meters in 2012. (February 14, 2011)