Africa, Middle Eastern ethanol stakeholders tour US facilities
The US Grains Council (USGC) recently hosted ethanol industry stakeholders from Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UAE on a tour of US ethanol facilities. The initiative aimed to boost biofuels exports to these regions by providing insights into the US biofuels industry and showcasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and ethanol production. The tour included visits to ethanol plants, farms, and export terminals, highlighting the potential for expanding ethanol markets in the Middle East and Africa.
WASHINGTON, DC, US -The US Grains Council (USGC) took a group of key ethanol industry stakeholders from Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates on a tour of US ethanol facilities to advance biofuels exports to the regions.
“Providing market intelligence and a consistent flow of information about the US biofuels industry,supply and demand, transportation, blending and quality issues as well as exposing MiddleEastern and African players to the US ethanol industry will catalyze future demand of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and US bioethanol in the region,” said Ramy H. Taieb, USGC regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The countries on the team represented examples of the different stages of ethanol adoption in the
region. For example, Nigeria consistently has been the largest market for US ethanol, mainly for industrial use. The Council’s efforts there and in Ghana are directed at increasing interest among fuel policy authorities about developing 10% blending (E10) mandates.
In Egypt, local authorities are working on an ethanol mandate that may facilitate the participation of the US ethanol industry.In the UAE, stakeholders are considering investments in the ethanol industry, particularly in SAF, and the Council is developing programs to demonstrate the viability and benefits of alcohol-to-jet (ATJ)-sourced US ethanol among airlines in the Middle East.
Taieb, USGC Ethanol Program Coordinator Sam Redfern and participants arrived in Fargo, North Dakota, US, for a tour of the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) and an informational presentation on the foundations of ethanol production and applications. The next day, attendees learned about the economics of sustainable agriculture and the practices of US producers along the ethanol supply chain and visited a local farm to see how US growers employ climate-friendly techniques in the field.
The group toured Tharaldson Ethanol’s plant, its on-site quality control lab and took a meeting with a major fuel retailer.The agenda concluded as participants traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, to examine a biofuel export terminal and for a meeting with CHS, a council member focused on strengthening supply chains between US producers and international customers.
“I am very excited about the potential for ethanol market expansion in the EMEA region and this program certainly helped us move toward that goal with its great diversity of meetings and tours,” Taieb said. “The NCI’s educational capacity and proximity to ethanol plants, farms and export facilities makes it perfectly suited for building business relationships and industry knowledge with important international buyers and policymakers.”
Source Link : https://www.world-grain.com/articles/20377-africa-middle-eastern-ethanol-stakeholders-tour-us-facilities
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