Inteligencia y Seguridad Frente Externo En Profundidad Economia y Finanzas Transparencia
  En Parrilla Medio Ambiente Sociedad High Tech Contacto
Economia y Finanzas  
 
10/06/2007 | India and China Are Looking for Alternative Ethanol Sources

Global Insight Staff

With ethanol production being ramped up, China and India are looking beyond their main input crops to meet this demand without sacrificing food security.

 

With growing populations and increasing oil consumption, reducing petroleum dependence has been the target of government policies in India and China. As a result, both countries are encouraging biofuel production.

While ethanol policies have been in place in China for over 20 years, the issue of biodiesel production has been addressed only recently. Output of this fuel is expected to advance rapidly, though, as China's diesel consumption is expected to be double its gasoline consumption in the near future.

With the rise in energy costs, India has also devoted a larger share of its sugarcane crop for ethanol. Experiments are underway for using 10% ethanol blend in gasoline and 15% ethanol in biodiesel. Considerable progress has also been made in the production of biodiesel from the jatropha plant.

China and India are the third- and fourth-largest producers of ethanol, respectively. With the rapid surge in ethanol production, both countries are faced with the task of finding alternate crops that do not compete with food security, and at the same time require marginal land and other resources to meet the growing ethanol demand. While both countries have experimented with alternate crops, success has been limited.

Wheat and corn are the main crops used in ethanol production in China. While stocks of these crops were plentiful when ethanol production began here several years ago, conditions have changed significantly over the years, resulting in reduced domestic stocks and thus a greater reliance on grain imports. Rising meat demand has put upward pressure on the country's corn stocks, which are used as feed for poultry and hogs, subsequently raising corn prices. Beijing recently stated that biofuel production should not be undertaken at the expense of food grain consumption. This has led to industry experiments with alternative nonfood crops such as cassava and sweet sorghum.

Cassava (or tapioca) can be grown in arid areas and is a significantly cheaper ethanol input than corn. Chinese officials have already approved the setup of an ethanol plant that will utilize 200,000 tons of cassava from the Guangxi region, which accounts for 70% of the country's cassava output. But officials have stated that the current supply will be insufficient to meet future demand. China is already importing cassava from neighboring countries—Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand—to meet existing demand. While plans are to increase cassava production by 50% by 2010, Chinese officials are skeptical of achieving this target. Sugarcane has been explored as another possible option, although land constraints and rising demand from the food processing industry lessen its viability in producing ethanol.

In India, sugarcane is the dominant crop used in ethanol production. Recently, the focus has shifted to the use of sweet sorghum. Compared to sugarcane, this crop produces twice as much ethanol, requires only half the amount of water and fertilizers, and it can be produced on degraded land. There are questions about the usefulness of sweet sorghum, however. Some experts believe that ethanol extraction from sweet sorghum is both lower and inefficient, and that the crop would require large plantations. While some processing experiments have been carried out, they have not progressed on a large scale.

Finding an alternative crop poses a further challenge, as both India and China are constrained by land and other resources. According to the International Water Management Institute, almost all of India’s major ethanol-producing sugarcane crop is irrigated, while 45% of China’s main ethanol-producing corn crop is irrigated. Moreover, 60% of India’s cereal crops and 70% of China's cereal crops are irrigated. By 2030, cereal demand in India and China is expected to increase by 60% and 40%, respectively, while the irrigation demand for these crops should increase by 13% and 9%. Producing sugarcane and corn to meet 10% of India's ethanol demand and 9% of China's ethanol demand would require an additional 22,000 and 26,000 billion liters of water, respectively. This would place greater strains on their existing resources, and experts indicate that parts of India and China have reached the limits of sustainable water use.

Although other food crops such as switchgrass are considered to be viable options, these are still in the experimental stage and may require considerable time before their full potential is realized. While China has been increasing its wheat and corn imports in recent years, obtaining an adequate supply on a consistent basis through these means may prove difficult, as agricultural production in other countries varies along with weather conditions.

Both India and China are faced with a rising low-income population. Because food security will always be the highest priority, shifting crops into fuel production risks both dwindling food supplies and rising prices—an untenable option. Nevertheless, there is an imminent need to find alternative sources for ethanol production in these countries. While both India and China have ambitious plans for the expansion of their domestic ethanol industries, the challenge lies in striking a balance between land availability, production efficiency, and existing resources—without sacrificing food security. While ethanol may provide the promise of reduced oil dependency, this is not an easy task.

by Kranti Mulik

www.globalinsight.com

Global Insight (Reino Unido)

 


Otras Notas Relacionadas... ( Records 1 to 10 of 2902 )
fecha titulo
23/04/2020 Geopolítica del petróleo: La gran batalla por la cuota de mercado
28/03/2020 Enfoque: La transición no tan silenciosa
22/02/2019 Análisis de coyuntura: El plan RenovAr estructural en la política climática
22/02/2019 How Belt and Road Is Upending the Beijing Consensus
31/01/2019 South Korea’s Hydrogen Economy Ambitions
15/01/2019 Una verdad incómoda
09/01/2019 2019: nubes en el horizonte para las energías renovables en A. Latina
26/12/2018 Análisis: El cambio climático revitaliza la opción nuclear
21/11/2018 La segunda revolución renovable de América Latina
26/10/2018 ¿Ideología o pragmatismo? La encrucijada en el sector energético


Otras Notas del Autor
fecha
Título
03/04/2011|
26/03/2011|
20/03/2011|
26/02/2011|
18/02/2011|
18/02/2011|
15/02/2011|
12/02/2011|
10/02/2011|
10/02/2011|
07/02/2011|
03/02/2011|
01/02/2011|
29/01/2011|
26/01/2011|
26/01/2011|
26/01/2011|
25/01/2011|
22/01/2011|
20/01/2011|
20/01/2011|
18/01/2011|
18/01/2011|
17/01/2011|
17/01/2011|
15/01/2011|
14/01/2011|
12/01/2011|
12/01/2011|
10/01/2011|
06/01/2011|
06/01/2011|
01/01/2011|
31/12/2010|
31/12/2010|
25/12/2010|
25/12/2010|
25/12/2010|
18/12/2010|
14/12/2010|
10/12/2010|
26/11/2010|
26/11/2010|
20/11/2010|
17/11/2010|
17/11/2010|
17/11/2010|
15/11/2010|
13/11/2010|
13/11/2010|
12/11/2010|
12/11/2010|
05/11/2010|
04/11/2010|
04/11/2010|
31/10/2010|
09/10/2010|
02/10/2010|
02/10/2010|
17/09/2010|
10/09/2010|
10/09/2010|
10/07/2010|
10/07/2010|
08/04/2010|
05/04/2010|
18/03/2010|
17/03/2010|
16/03/2010|
09/03/2010|
09/03/2010|
05/03/2010|
05/03/2010|
04/03/2010|
03/03/2010|
01/03/2010|
26/02/2010|
26/02/2010|
24/02/2010|
23/02/2010|
22/02/2010|
20/02/2010|
20/02/2010|
17/02/2010|
17/02/2010|
16/02/2010|
15/02/2010|
12/02/2010|
11/02/2010|
10/02/2010|
09/02/2010|
08/02/2010|
05/02/2010|
04/02/2010|
04/02/2010|
04/02/2010|
02/02/2010|
01/02/2010|
31/01/2010|
31/01/2010|
22/01/2010|
21/01/2010|
20/01/2010|
19/01/2010|
19/01/2010|
15/01/2010|
14/01/2010|
13/01/2010|
12/01/2010|
11/01/2010|
08/01/2010|
07/01/2010|
07/01/2010|
05/01/2010|
04/01/2010|
31/12/2009|
31/12/2009|
30/12/2009|
24/12/2009|
23/12/2009|
22/12/2009|
21/12/2009|
18/12/2009|
17/12/2009|
16/12/2009|
15/12/2009|
15/12/2009|
14/12/2009|
14/12/2009|
13/12/2009|
13/12/2009|
11/12/2009|
11/12/2009|
10/12/2009|
10/12/2009|
08/12/2009|
08/12/2009|
08/12/2009|
08/12/2009|
04/12/2009|
04/12/2009|
04/12/2009|
04/12/2009|
03/12/2009|
03/12/2009|
01/12/2009|
01/12/2009|
01/12/2009|
01/12/2009|
27/11/2009|
27/11/2009|
26/11/2009|
26/11/2009|
25/11/2009|
25/11/2009|
24/11/2009|
24/11/2009|
23/11/2009|
23/11/2009|
22/11/2009|
22/11/2009|
16/11/2009|
16/11/2009|
13/11/2009|
13/11/2009|
11/11/2009|
11/11/2009|
11/11/2009|
11/11/2009|
10/11/2009|
10/11/2009|
07/11/2009|
06/11/2009|
04/11/2009|
04/11/2009|
02/11/2009|
31/10/2009|
30/10/2009|
29/10/2009|
28/10/2009|
27/10/2009|
21/10/2009|
21/10/2009|
19/10/2009|
15/10/2009|
14/10/2009|
13/10/2009|
12/10/2009|
09/10/2009|
09/10/2009|
07/10/2009|
06/10/2009|
05/10/2009|
02/10/2009|
01/10/2009|
01/10/2009|
01/10/2009|
30/09/2009|
30/09/2009|
21/09/2009|
19/09/2009|
17/09/2009|
16/09/2009|
15/09/2009|
14/09/2009|
12/09/2009|
12/09/2009|
12/09/2009|
10/09/2009|
09/09/2009|
08/09/2009|
07/09/2009|
05/09/2009|
04/09/2009|
03/09/2009|
02/09/2009|
01/09/2009|
31/08/2009|
29/08/2009|
27/08/2009|
27/08/2009|
26/08/2009|
24/08/2009|
21/08/2009|
20/08/2009|
19/08/2009|
18/08/2009|
17/08/2009|
14/08/2009|
14/08/2009|
14/08/2009|
14/08/2009|
12/08/2009|
12/08/2009|
11/08/2009|
11/08/2009|
10/08/2009|
10/08/2009|
07/08/2009|
07/08/2009|
06/08/2009|
06/08/2009|
05/08/2009|
05/08/2009|
04/08/2009|
04/08/2009|
03/08/2009|
03/08/2009|
01/08/2009|
01/08/2009|
29/07/2009|
29/07/2009|
29/07/2009|
29/07/2009|
27/07/2009|
27/07/2009|
25/07/2009|
25/07/2009|
23/07/2009|
23/07/2009|
23/07/2009|
23/07/2009|
21/07/2009|
21/07/2009|
20/07/2009|
20/07/2009|
17/07/2009|
17/07/2009|
16/07/2009|
16/07/2009|
16/07/2009|
15/07/2009|
15/07/2009|
15/07/2009|
28/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
18/01/2009|
10/01/2009|
06/01/2009|
05/01/2009|
02/01/2009|
24/12/2008|
24/12/2008|
24/12/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
03/10/2008|
03/10/2008|
03/10/2008|
03/10/2008|
24/09/2008|
24/09/2008|
20/09/2008|
20/09/2008|
18/09/2008|
18/09/2008|
18/09/2008|
18/09/2008|
10/09/2008|
10/09/2008|
08/09/2008|
08/09/2008|
17/08/2008|
17/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
11/08/2008|
13/05/2008|
12/05/2008|
12/05/2008|
10/05/2008|
04/05/2008|
02/05/2008|
27/04/2008|
27/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
24/04/2008|
06/04/2008|
26/03/2008|
20/03/2008|
19/03/2008|
13/03/2008|
10/03/2008|
07/03/2008|
05/03/2008|
18/02/2008|
06/02/2008|
03/02/2008|
01/02/2008|
01/02/2008|
21/12/2007|
21/12/2007|
08/12/2007|
08/12/2007|
02/11/2007|
30/10/2007|
30/10/2007|
27/10/2007|
25/10/2007|
20/10/2007|
04/10/2007|
28/09/2007|
28/09/2007|
31/08/2007|
31/08/2007|
30/08/2007|
30/08/2007|
15/08/2007|
11/08/2007|
11/08/2007|
31/07/2007|
28/07/2007|
28/07/2007|
04/07/2007|
30/06/2007|
30/06/2007|
30/06/2007|
30/06/2007|
16/06/2007|
16/06/2007|
16/06/2007|
16/06/2007|
13/06/2007|
13/06/2007|
10/06/2007|
10/06/2007|
10/06/2007|
10/06/2007|
16/05/2007|
16/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
03/05/2007|
30/04/2007|
30/04/2007|
26/04/2007|
26/04/2007|
25/04/2007|
25/04/2007|
25/04/2007|
25/04/2007|
21/04/2007|
21/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
19/04/2007|
10/04/2007|
10/04/2007|
07/04/2007|
07/04/2007|
04/04/2007|
04/04/2007|
02/04/2007|
02/04/2007|
01/04/2007|
28/03/2007|
28/03/2007|
25/03/2007|
25/03/2007|
20/03/2007|
20/03/2007|
28/02/2007|
23/01/2007|
23/01/2007|
08/01/2007|
08/01/2007|
08/01/2007|
08/01/2007|
06/01/2007|
06/01/2007|
04/01/2007|
04/01/2007|
29/12/2006|
29/12/2006|
28/12/2006|
28/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
26/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
14/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
11/12/2006|
09/12/2006|
09/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
25/11/2006|
25/11/2006|
23/11/2006|
23/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
21/11/2006|
11/11/2006|
11/11/2006|
02/11/2006|
01/11/2006|
01/11/2006|
28/10/2006|
28/10/2006|
28/10/2006|
28/10/2006|
20/10/2006|
20/10/2006|
20/10/2006|
20/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
07/10/2006|
07/10/2006|
07/10/2006|
05/10/2006|
04/10/2006|
04/10/2006|
04/10/2006|
04/10/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
06/09/2006|
04/09/2006|
04/09/2006|
02/09/2006|
02/09/2006|
02/09/2006|
01/09/2006|
30/08/2006|
02/08/2006|
02/08/2006|
30/07/2006|
30/07/2006|
27/07/2006|
27/07/2006|
21/07/2006|
20/07/2006|
20/07/2006|
18/07/2006|
16/07/2006|
13/07/2006|
12/07/2006|
12/07/2006|
07/07/2006|
07/07/2006|
06/07/2006|
29/06/2006|
29/06/2006|
29/06/2006|
29/06/2006|
28/06/2006|
26/06/2006|
26/06/2006|
21/06/2006|
21/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
04/06/2006|
09/05/2006|
03/05/2006|
03/05/2006|
03/05/2006|
03/05/2006|
18/02/2006|
04/02/2006|
04/02/2006|
29/01/2006|
23/09/2005|

ver + notas
 
Center for the Study of the Presidency
Freedom House