One of the largest domestic producers of ethanol from sugarcane, Goiás must also become a pole in the production of fuel derived from corn. For this, two large investments are planned in the state: from the São Martinho plant, from R $ 350 million in Quirinópolis, and VMG Bioenergia and Agribusiness, from R $ 550 million in Jataí. Thus, only these two investments will total almost R $ 1 billion. The state government still has to officially grant tax incentives to companies. On the other hand, the high corn production in Goiás was what attracted attention of VMG Bioenergia and Agribusiness to invest R $ 550 million in a new ethanol plant in Jataí. The company already has a production unit for corn oil and bioenergy. VMG already produces two types of corn ethanol: one for the use of motor vehicles and another specific for cosmetics, pharmaceutical, fine drinks, alcohol gel, among other uses. Brazil is the world’s largest consumer of ethanol, after the United States. Fuel production with corn processing in Brazil is increasing and has gained space alongside sugarcane ethanol. Both serve demands from all over the country, with the volume of corn ethanol expected to exceed the 1 billion liters mark this season. Ricardo Tomczyk, president of the National Union of Ethanol from Corn (Unem), says that with the expansion of corn biofuel production, it will be possible to meet part of the demand for ethanol, but not all of it. It takes into account forecasts that indicate an additional demand of another 20 million liters in the next 10 years and implies that it will also require a growth of the sugar cane sector. Thus, the production of ethanol from corn is competitive, but it should not replace sugarcane, being just another option in the Brazilian market. In addition, some of the producers of ethanol from cane can use the same structure to produce from cane or corn – which are called flex. However, some adaptations have to be made.
Source: Nova Cana