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Ethanol and other biofuels become a global political issue
By The Panama Gringo | April 29, 2007
The one noteworthy thing that George W. Bush had to show from his recent trip to several Latin American countries was a rather vague joint statement with Brazilian President Lula da Silva promising cooperation in the development of ethanol and other biofuel technologies. “Biofuels” are those that are grown, which are thus unlike non-renewable petroleum in that the supply is not nearly so finite as that of fossil-based fuels.
The issue takes on added significance in Panama because this country now has an agreement with Brazil by which the latter will aid the establishment of a Panamanian biofuels industry.
The Brazilians have long made large-scale use of ethanol, an alcohol that can be made from corn, sugar cane, wood chips or many other plant materials. Ethanols made from different plant substances will have varying fuel value properties, much like gasolines with different octane contents do. Generally, sugar cane based ethanols burn hotter and cleaner than those made from corn. more