Newswire – December 11, 2009
The AFC is very concerned with respect to the proposed sale of GuySuCo’s land at Diamond East Bank Demerara. The AFC’s view that the long-term viability of GuySuCo would be compromised if these lands were sold out. The PPP government has failed to articulate a vision of what form of production would be conducted after the lands are sold. The PPP has chosen to sacrifice long-term viability of GuySuCo for short-term cash flow. Who would buy the land? In what form of production activity would the buyers engage in order to employ our people? The AFC is also concerned that the government is yet to establish a transparent framework for the sale of the nation’s patrimony.
The AFC is of the view that the GuySuCo land at Diamond could be used to revitalize sugar cane fields to feed an ethanol plant on the East Bank, preferably at Diamond that can tie in with the current DDL operations there to form an industrial cluster. However, such a plan must be part of a national renewable energy industrial policy. For starters the AFC’s plan calls for an immediate E10 agenda going through Parliament to mix our imported gasoline with 10% ethanol, which are made right here in Guyana.
With the reactivation of sugar cane fields in Demerara we are also able to have a new bagasse co-generation plant in the Diamond industrial cluster, benefiting both GuySuCo and our industries in the area. A national E10 policy – which must be increased later to higher blends of ethanol – would also empower GuySuCo to repeat a similar renewable energy industrial cluster in West Demerara and West Berbice. We also believe that an E10 policy must also be complemented with a national B10 policy to mix bio-diesel (made from coconuts) with imported diesel. Coconut waste (husk and shells) also provides feedstock for co-generation to back up our bagasse co-generation. Coconuts are also versatile enough to provide for many other agro-industrial applications like bottled coconut water by Banks DIH and DDL.
The AFC strongly believes that national renewable energy E10 and B10 policies have the following benefits for Guyana.
(i) We save foreign exchange by importing less gasoline and diesel.
(ii) We produce carbon-neutral energy from ethanol and co-generation.
(iii) We achieve energy security from vagaries of the world oil market.
(iv) We create jobs and save GuySuCo’s operations.
(v) We create alternative industries that are necessary to develop Guyana in one generation after the AFC wins the 2011 election.
(vi) We are better positioned to take advantage of higher mixes of ethanol and diesel and move on to cellulosic ethanol when the technology becomes available.
(vii) We can expand the same E10 and B10 policies throughout CARICOM, thus promoting energy and economic security for the region.
We have wasted too much time since May 26, 1966. Time to move on; time for change!
Point of contact: Peter R. Ramsaroop/CEO
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