The grain-processing plant will be located just north of Rosario, the main agro-industrial hub in Argentina, which is the world’s largest supplier of soymeal and soyoil.

The plant will have “the capacity to generate its own energy and a port for exports of beans and their derivatives,” Molinos (MOL.BA) said in a statement sent to the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.

The biodiesel producer Renova, in which the three firms have an equal stake, will build the plant.

Molinos, one of Argentina’s main agricultural and food firms, is controlled by local businessman Gregorio Perez Companc. Oleaginosa Moreno Hermanos is indirectly owned by commodities trader Glencore [GLEN.UL]. (Reporting by Jorge Otaola; writing by Alexandra Ulmer; editing by Jim Marshall).

SOURCE: REUTERS

“Biodiesel will be incorporated into the energy matrix, initially accounting for 5 percent of domestic demand, that is 742 million liters (196 million gallons) per year, which is equivalent to the amount of conventional diesel fuel imported by Argentina in 2008,” Planning Minister Julio de Vido told a press conference.

The minister predicted that over the next four years biodiesel’s share of the conventional diesel-biofuel blend will rise to 20 percent.

The law mandating that diesel fuel contain a renewable component dates back to 2006 and stipulates that the measure must go into effect in 2010.

Separately, the minister said that in the face of “persistent record-high temperatures” in the current Southern Hemisphere summer, the electrical system has responded “perfectly within the normal parameters.”

He acknowledged that “there may have been some isolated” problems with the service, but nothing serious.

De Vido added that the government has already invested 18 billion pesos ($4.66 billion) to expand electricity generation and transport capacity in Argentina.

In that sense, he said investment projects totaling 29 billion pesos ($7.51 billion) are currently being carried out, in addition to planned future projects that will cost 31 billion pesos ($8.03 billion) EFE.

Source: Laht efe

In past days the envelopes with the technical offer of the Official Plan of Renewable Energies (GENREN) bid were opened. The proposing companies are now waiting for the economic offer envelopes.

he Argentine government announced the results of the 1,015 megawatt (MW) renewable energies tender proposed last May. The total offers reached 1,461 MW, a 46% oversubscription. The offers were broken down by technology: 1,203 for wind power; 155.4 MW from biofuels; 54.1 MW from biomass; 14 MW from biogas; 22.5 MW from photovoltaic solar energy; and 12.7 MW from small hydro projects.

The opening of the sealed envelopes was done at a ceremony at the presidential mansion known as la Casa Rosada, which included words from Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as well as from the Federal Planning Minister, Julio de Vido.

According to a recent study by the Argentine Renewable Energy Chamber (CADER), nearly 70% of Argentina’s territory is covered with winds whose annual average speed, measured at 50 meters above ground level, surpasses 6 m/s. In Central and Southern Patagonia the speeds can reach on average 9 m/s and up to 12 m/s. Most areas in the vast Patagonia region experience annual average capacity factors above 45%. The provinces of Córdoba, part of San Luis, La Pampa, San Juan, La Rioja and the central and southwestern regions of the province of Buenos Aires yield capacity factors between 35% and 40%.

But despite such massive potential, the 30 MW of wind generation that has been installed to date comes mainly from projects completed between the mid-1990s and early 2000s that were developed by small cooperatives in the Patagonian region.

The tender had been launched by the government last May to assist in the requirements under Renewable Energies Law 26.190 from 2006 that requires that by the year 2016, fully 8% of the country’s energy matrix must be derived from renewable sources. Once all offers have been reviewed, the government must evaluate each one objectively – prices offered and the companies’ technical and financial capacity, among others. According to calculations by the Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber, if all 1,462 MW are accepted it will result in investments in excess of US$2 billion and the creation of approximately 1000 new jobs.

After the public announcement, the President of the chamber, Carlos St. James, exchanged thoughts about the next steps with President Fernandez, expressing optimism about the future of the industry. “These offers, considering the quality and prestige of the multinational companies making them, leaves no doubt that Argentina is on its way to developing a full-fledged renewable energies industry. This is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when a fluid communication is established between the public and private sectors.”

As the chamber had indicated in its recent State of the Argentine Wind Industry study published last May, Argentina has unequaled potential to develop wind energy, as seen by the dominance of wind projects in the tender totaling 1,203 MW, more than 80% of the total offerings. According to Mauro Soares, President of the Wind Energy Committee of the Chamber, “This tender generated unparalleled activity and interest from our sector; the number of proposals focused on wind was very gratifying. Now we will finally see this energy become part of our country’s energy matrix. We welcome this launch of the industry in Argentina, and I congratulate all those that worked towards making it possible.” Also, Sebastian Kind, co-author of the study and board member of the chamber, stated, “Today we saw a high degree of confidence of the sector’s potential; the 1461 MW offered represent solid foundations for a prosperous renewable industry. Argentina has a unique opportunity to generate new skills and develop technology while providing clean and competitive energy for our future.”

According to a recent study published by New Energy Finance, based in London, the global renewable energies industry invested US$155 billion in 2008, with a compound annual growth rate of 45%. Latin America captured US$12 billion of this total, but it is growing at a CAGR of 145%.

The Argentine Renewable Energies Chamber (Cámara Argentina de Energías Renovables, or CADER) is a non-profit industry trade association dedicated to the sustainable development of renewable energies in Argentina. It seeks to play a vital role in the establishment of a solid and vibrant industry, one which is respected globally for its standards and practices.

The Chamber counts among its members companies that believe these principles and work towards developing the local solar, wind and biomass sectors. Its great diversity in members creates one of the Chamber’s greatest strengths, since it is the only organization that represents the entire spectrum of this nascent industry’s value chain.

In past days the envelopes with the technical offer of the Official Plan of Renewable Energies (GENREN) bid were opened. The proposing companies are now waiting for the economic offer envelopes, which will be handed once the technical analysis is concluded. The complete list of proposing companies follows.

1. Emgasud Renovables: 4 wind farms (3 of 50 MW and one of 30 MW, two in Madryn and one in Rawson)

2. Patagonia Wind Energy: one 50 MW wind park, in Madryn.

3. Energías Sustentables SA: one 20 MW wind farm, in West Madryn.

4. International New Energy: one 50 MW wind park, in North Madryn.

5. Sogesic SA: 2 wind parks, of 50 MW, in Tres picos.

6. Unitec Energy – San Jose Argentina – INVAP (UTE): 2 wind parks, of 50 MW.

7. Isolux Ingenieria – Gas y Petróleo de Neuquén – Ingenieria Sima SA, (UTE): one 50 MW wind park.

8. Isolux Ingenieria: 4 wind parks of 50 MW in Loma Blanca 1.2.3 and 4.

9. Impsa Wind SA: 10 wind parks. Kaluel Kayke I (50MW), II (25MW), Malaspina I (50 MW), II (30MW), Condor Cliff La Barrancosa (50MW), Piedra Buena I (50MW), II (30MW), Las Heras (50 MW), Tornquist (50MW).

10. Pan American Fueguinas SA: 28 MW wind park in Cerro Dragon.

Patagonia in Argentina has some of the best conditions in the world for wind power generation. Not only are the winds strong in Patagonia, but they are also fierce in the south of Buenos Aires province and interior provinces such as Córdoba. Blessed with such potential, Argentina should be a world leader in wind energy.

Source: evwind

Growing imports of cheap Argentine biodiesel into Europe are replacing U.S. imports hit by European Union anti-dumping duties in March, Swiss-German biodiesel producer Biopetrol said on Thursday.

“Increasing amounts of indirectly-subsidized biodiesel have been coming to Europe from Argentina since the second quarter,” Biopetrol said in a statement in a statement on its first half 2009 results.

“The EU and the German government are once again called upon to act quickly to give European biodiesel producers the same protection against subsidized imports as in the case of B99 (biodiesel) from the U.S.”

In March, the EU said it would impose punitive duties on imports of biodiesel from the U.S. while an investigation is held into allegations the U.S. green fuel is sold cheaply in Europe with the help of subsidies.

“Biodiesel prices continued to be under heavy pressure, because large inventories of highly subsidized American B99 that had been established in Europe were still being sold on the market,” Biopetrol said.

The company, which in April underwent major financial restructuring, on Thursday posted a dramatic fall in first half 2009 turnover of about 50 percent to 69.7 million euros from 139.8 million euros in the first half of 2008.

Losses before interest and tax (Ebit) rose to 13.7 million euros from a loss of 3.1 million euros in the same time in 2008.

Increased taxes on biodiesel imposed by the German government had brought a “collapse” in petrol station sales of the green fuel in the first half, Biopetrol said.

This could not even be remotely compensated for by Germany increasing maximum-permitted blending of biodiesel in conventional diesel from five percent biofuel content to seven percent, it said.

Germany’s biofuels industry association said on Monday the country’s biodiesel industry is only working at 20 percent of capacity largely because of high taxes.

But Biopetrol said it was “well positioned for the future” after its financial restructuring in April.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Peter Blackburn)

Source: Reuters

The jatropha (known as Barbados nut) and the biodiesel attract the interest of the markets of Asia and North America, through the promotion that two investigators carry out in United States on the plant and its yield.  Â

In October of 2008, a group of investigators visited the country interested in promoting the scientific investigation in the alternative energy field. Ryan Joon Hyeong Im and Ryan Choi wants to bring the scientific investigation on the jatropha and the biodiesel production to the country, at the same time of promoting Paraguay in the Asian and North American markets, explained Jerónimo Finestra, representative of the Association for scientific development of the Mercosur. Â

“It is to transform the country into a country of biodiesel production and another type of renewable energy. Through this association, they are promoting Paraguay among investors and in the universities of United States, to bring investigating teams”, Finestra commented.Â

In July of this year, Im will arrive to the country to continue with his scientific investigation on the jatropha. The novelty will be that he will carry out laboratory studies and will investigate on how to improve the yield per hectare of the plant.Â

Mr. Ryan Choi lived in Paraguay some time ago and today works, together with Im, in an investment fund in United States. This is how they began to investigate on the plant and discovered that in Paraguay the land is capable for the production.Â

The investigators want Paraguay to be, for the first time, energy salesperson, besides the electric one. For that, bonds are being settled with local authorities and foreign investigators, according to the representative of the association in the country.Â

“Mr. Im is the scientific brain of the project, while Mr. Ryan Choi is the economic boss of it”, Finestra specified.Â

Im and Choi are working in the investments acquisition for plantations of the Barbados nut, as well as for the installation of a factory to process it. For the factory and the plantations that can supply it is said that at first they will require of about 5 million dollars. For the investigation it could start with 100 thousand to 200 thousand dollars.Â

“The project is jatropha and its production in the Paraguay” it is the name of this enterprise. Another of the projects is, once consolidated in Paraguay, to launch the project to the Mercosur, but having the country as operation headquarters.Â

They chose the country because they consider that it has ideal lazy lands for this cultivation, there is enough manpower, and the lands are economically accessible, among other reasons.Â

Source: Ultima Hora

The president of the National Agency of Investment Developments, Beatriz Nofal and Jorge Piwko, director of Biodiesel del Plata, announced this morning the inauguration of a biodiesel plant using used vegetables oils.Â

Associated to spanish capitals, Piwko formed the company of renewable energy Ricard Set and with a total investment of u$s1,5 million the plant was built to produce biodiesel with an installed capacity of 1.200 monthly tons of biodiesel and 500 tons of industrial glycerine to 85% concentration, destinated to the export. It is forseen that the commercial production will begin in June.Â

Biodiesel del Plata is developing a plan of biodiesel elaboration starting from the gathering of used vegetables oils that will involve non governmental organizations, public and private schools, and beneficiaries of social plans and street collectors, creating ecological conscience and collaborating in the achievement of a clean and sustainable development in time.Â

This way, this initiative contributes doubly to reduce the levels of contamination. On one hand, because the vegetable oils of domestic use when they are degraded and poured by the drainages, they form films in the water that impede their oxygenation and they complicate the correct purification of the residual waters.Â

On the other hand, the biodiesel possesses aptitude to replace the fossil fuels in any conventional diesel motor providing significant reductions in the emanation of particles and of carbon monoxide in comparison with the petroleum diesel.Â

Also, their biological cycle in the production and the use reduces approximately in 80% the emissions of carbonic anhydride and almost 100% those of sulfur dioxide; and their combustion diminishes in 90% the quantity of total not burned hydrocarbons, and between 75-90% in the aromatic hydrocarbons.Â

ProsperAr will facilitate the access of Biodiesel del Plata to the support programs for the patenting that the national Government ahead is carrying out in the area of Science and Technology as well as the contacts with the authorities of investments of the county of Buenos Aires and their participation in commercial missions and international fairs.Â

Source:Infobae