World ethanol market not yet in sugar industry's sights.

(From BusinessWorld (Philippines))

Byline: Beverly T. Natividad

All-time highs hit by world oil prices has highlighted the urgency to tap and develop alternative energy sources like sugarcane-based fuel- ethanol.

Just late last month, independent oil firm Flying V announced it would build an P800-million ethanol plant in Mariveles, Bataan, to produce 60,000 liters a day. The firm sells E10, a 10% ethanol-gasoline blend, in its service stations, but the ethanol additive is imported from Brazil.

Industry studies show that the Philippines needs about 400 million liters of ethanol by 2010, requiring about 20 ethanol plants all over the country by that time.

So, can the country's sugar industry take advantage of the emerging market here and abroad?

"The rise in oil prices over the past two years or more …