Aiming at the future, the Agricultural Sugarcane League of Costa Rica (LAICA) has decided to invest $3 million on future developments that will enhance their ethanol production in at least a 30%. The works will take place in the LAICA’s plant in Punta Morales (Puntarenas) from the next 17th of May until the 17th June.

The main goal is to enhance the dehydration process capacity of the plant (hopefully to a 40%); in order to do this the LAICA is acquiring a new boiler, brand new industrial pipes, a new power generator and also brand new software to control the plant’s operation.

So what is the big deal with ethanol anyway?

Ethanol has many uses, however I am referring to the fuel aspect here, for added to gasoline, ethanol reduces ground-level ozone formation by lowering volatile organic compound and hydrocarbon emissions, decreasing carcinogenic benzene, and butadiene, emissions, and particulate matter emissions from gasoline combustion. (Translation: It is supposedly good for the gas)

A long time ago Henry Ford designed the first mass-produced automobile, the famed Model T Ford, to run on pure anhydrous (ethanol) alcohol — he said it was “the fuel of the future”. Today even though the cars are not running on pure ethanol (At least not yet), it is commonly blended with regular gasoline (Approximately in a 10%) This “mix” is known as gasohol, and it is widely sold throughout the U.S.

Now back to Costa Rica and yes, the look at the numbers!!

The LAICA handles an average yearly production of 143 millions liters of alcohol; however with the new upgrades this number will go up to 200 millions liters instead.

Brazil is the biggest name in the ethanol world market, and most of the 140 millions of the product that was sent to the US market from Costa Rica (Between 06-07), originally came from unprocessed Brazilian material.

New business opportunities keep opening up in Costa Rica, and sometimes all we need is for someone to let us know what is happening; so what are you waiting for guys?, share the news with your friends, opportunity could be around the corner.