Energy, a simple thing as this, now dictates global economy, politics and religion. If you did science at some point in you life, you will know that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it is in constant balance.
I remember about a month ago, I was about to question the fact that there are 6 billion minds on this planet and none of them can come up with alternative energy source, other than nuclear and oil, but it turns out there are solutions, like ethanol. I was happy, when I found out.
The question becomes then, what will developing countries do, most importantly African countries? Are we going to wait untill it is critical to find alternative energy, like where America is? or are we going to be proactive?
I am told ethanol can be produced by virtually anything that is organic, how fantastic is that, now the irony would be, do you invest money to feed people or do you invest it to make fuel? The good news is that the bi-products of food products, corn & wheat, can still produce fuel.
Hell, Africa could become the Mecca for this fuel. Imagine the headlines, 'America needs Africa'.
The IDC and the Energy Development Corporationa are assessing production of ethanol as a blend stock into fuel in South Africa.
They plan on having about 8 plants, rolled over the next couple of year.
Apparently each plant would cost between $50m and $100m.
Ethanol Africa and Sterling Waterford Holdings are also spending R5,6bn building eight maize-to-ethanol plants in South Africa.
Bloomberg reported that the first project using 375 000 tons of corn a year would begin operating at the end of next year in Bothaville, Free State.
Last year, GrainSA, which represents most of South Africa�s 10 000 commercial corn farmers, said a company would be created to build seven ethanol plants at a cost of R2,45bn.
Vinci
May 2006
This is good.
nkoane
May 2006