The demand of the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines’ (Epap) to import molasses has been opposed by the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed).
Manuel Lamata, president, Unifed reiterated the organization’s stand during the virtual meeting of Bioethanol Consultative Board (BCB) on Tuesday.
Lamata alleged that Epap move was thumbed down by BCB but despite this they found ways to raise the issue through the House Committee on Energy, chaired by Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo.
According to the media report, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) will adopt the BCB’s position and will submit it to the Department of Energy and Arroyo for further consideration.
Epap has sent a letter to Arroyo seeking consideration to allow the importation of molasses to meet the local deficit to ensure that the bioethanol industry runs with its full capacity.
“The ethanol producers can procure the stock of more than 270,000 metric tons of molasses available in the country for production and there is no need to import it,” said Nicolas Kramer, vice president and chief of operations, Unifed.
Lamata said, “If we look at the previous year data then it emerges that supply reached 1.3 million metric tonnes and demand was only at 1.098 million metric tonnes. This clearly shows there is no need to import molasses.”
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