The production of ethanol in Guyana is now on the front burner of decisions which the administration will have to consider.
Last Monday, the Coordinator of the United Nations European Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ( UN-ECLAC) presented a report on the feasibility of ethanol production here.
The report said Guyana has a comparative advantage for the production of this renewable fuel.
The production of ethanol is currently attracting worldwide attention, including countries like the United States and Brazil.
Five foreign companies have already indicated their interest in producing this bio-fuel in Guyana.
A preliminary assessment of the issue looks encouraging for Guyana. We have the potential --- vast tract of unused land to cultivate crops necessary for ethanol production.
It has already been publicly stated that 50,000 hectares of land in the Canje area in region Six are available to investors.
Ethanol can be produced from sugar cane and its by-product, molasses. Both are obtainable locally.
The spin-offs are attractive:
*Reduction in fossil fuel imports
*Employment opportunities
*Profits for the investor and revenue for the state.
To make it even more attractive, ECLAC had given its commitment to providing technical support to formulate a policy on the production and consumption of bio-fuels and to do a feasibility study on commercial production.
All seems set to move forward. But the administration has some reservation, and with
Good reason.
Receiving the report, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds observed that there were several issues which will have to be considered before embarking on further steps in this matter.
And Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud sounded a note of caution. Before getting into such ventures, it would be wise to look at the experiences of other countries, and compare these with our local peculiarities, to ensure that we are on a sound footing before we move on.
Adviser to the President on Science,Technology and the Environment, Navin Chandarpal, who was at the presentation ceremony, also noted that bio-fuel production has generated global discussions, and the ongoing debate is whether to use land for food or energy production.
Cuban President Dr. Fidel Castro, in a recent commentary on the issue, was very emphatic when he spoke of the dangers involved in sacrificing food production for bio-fuel production.
We know that the government will make decisions in the best interest of the people.
Still, we urge a thorough analysis of the issues involved to ensure that giving the green light in this matter is the better option.