First Philippine ethanol plant to rise in Bukidnon

The Philippines first ethanol plant will be built in Bukidnon, a province in Southern Philippines. The construction of the 50,000-liter-per-day plant is expected to be completed by year-end, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer. A total of 8,000 hectares of sugarcane is required to produce raw material supply for the plant. South Bukidnon Bioenergy, Inc. (SBBI) is a joint venture of Bronzeoak Philippines Inc., state-owned National Development Co. and three groups of Bukidnon sugar planters. Sugarcane will be sourced from the towns of Dangcagan, Kitaotao, Kadingilan and Carmen according to Bukidnon Representative and project advocate Juan Miguel Zubiri. The Php1.5 billion (US$30.62 million) facility sits on a 24-hectare land in Labuagon, Kibawe. Zubiri said that direct competition for raw materials will be avoided due to the geographical isolation of the ethanol plant from other sugar plants. (December 29, 2006)