Biotech Updates

Vietnam Builds Sugar-Ethanol and Cassava-Ethanol Production Plants

August 24, 2007
http://biopact.com/2007/08/vietnam-to-build-two-cassava-and.html

Vietnam is set to move its bioenergy program through the construction of two large ethanol production plants, each with different biofuel feedstocks. The first plant (to be constructed by Itochu Corporation, Japan) will utilize cassava chips and will have an estimated annual ethanol production capacity of 100 million liters. The second plant (to be constructed in partnership between Vietnam’s Bien Hoa Sugar Company and Singapore’s Fair Energy Asia Ltd) will have an annual ethanol production capacity of 50,000 tons. According to the Biopact website, Vietnam has a large cassava production potential and can benefit from its utilization as a bioenergy feedstock. Cassava is reported to thrive in marginal soils, and requires low agricultural inputs. Studies also show that cassava is an “efficient biofuel plant” due to its “strong energy balance”.  

Related Information on Cassava Energy Balance Study: http://biopact.com/2007/04/first-full-energy-balance-study-reveals.html 

Contact Hien Le of the Biotechnology Information Center in Vietnam at hientttm@yahoo.com for more news in Vietnam.