Looks like a win win for the country. Jobs and electricity generation. But let's see how long it takes the politicians to screw this one up.

It is Ethanol. It is already screwed up.

So you are going to take productive farmland to grow sorghum to make a fuel that decreases Gas Milage and if care is not taken cause harm to engines.

Why not, the land you speak of is just that.... idle land, why not make good use of it. Yes we do get less MPG but at least it burns cleaner, besides from my understanding ...One must weigh the benefits such as......
11,000 plus jobs.
No impact / increase on the price of food.
less dependency on expensive foreign oil.
less impact on the environment.
Give IRAN and the middle East the middle finger....Up yours !.
We are know on the breaking point being total self sufficient on energy matters, am I missing something here or what.

The additional employment sounds good .. but major problems with converting farmland to methanol production .. the practice is already increasing food prices world wide and the "net energy" output from these biofuel projects are debatable i.e. the energy input/energy output ratio. More politics than economics ..

The additional employment sounds good .. but major problems with converting farmland to methanol production .. the practice is already increasing food prices world wide and the "net energy" output from these biofuel projects are debatable i.e. the energy input/energy output ratio. More politics than economics ..

Nowhere in the article does it say "Idle Land".

What is going to happen is that growers are going to switch to sorghum to fill the demand. This will take land out of production for feed for livestock or food for the market. Prices for foods will go up. people will bitch. It is happening in the US. What makes you think it won't happen in the DR?

Also check out how much water is used to make Ethanol. Currently approx. 1700 Gallons of water is needed to produce 1 gallon of ethanol with another 12 gallons of waste water. So much for less impact on the enviroment.

Also Ethanol decreases fuel milage and if used at more than 10% mix with gasoline can cause nasty things to engines.

"The additional employment sounds good .. but major problems with converting farmland to methanol production .. "

Just a correction. It is Ethanol not Methanol. They are produced differently. Methanol is produced from natural gas.

I knew it sounded to good to be true...up the same creek, and again...... No paddle.

Muchas Gracias Jersey Boy .. I knew you would come to my rescue one day ..

Anybody know how to get a hold of Empressa RJS, Look like there might be an opportunity for work there. Seriously

The land thata these people intend to use is the "marginal farmland" that has been out of production for aabout 50 years. It is currently being lived on by marginal subsistence farmers in and around Manzanillo and MonteCristi.
The economics of the projects are sorely needed in this highly depressed area of the DR where the population is dependent primarily on remittances from realatives in the States and elsewhere.
For that reason alone, I wouldn't object too much about the prospects concerning the production of Ethanol. At least someone is finally recognizing the plight of the DR andit's dependence on foreign oil andis coming up with a partial solution to the problem.

As someone once said,

"It's hard to think about draining the swamp when you're up to your A$$ in Alligators".

Just my dos pesos worth of commentary.

TB

Foreign Oil is a problem But i can't wait till they start mixing in more than 10% ethanol in the Gas and people's cars start breaking down.

If they really want this ethanol just be prepared for the consequences including huge amounts of waste water and higher food prices.

If the land is "marginal" whats to stop them from looking for other sources?

Tony;

The land IS marginal, but is well suited for the growing of Sorghum and sugar cane. That area was formerly used for the production of bananas back when the company built the Port of Manzanillo and the railroad serving the farmland between there and Monticristi. It doesn't include the rice-growing areas currently dedicated to that production.
And, you're absolutely correct about the use of excessive Ethanol in the Ethanol/gasolene mix. If it is excessive, the costs of repairs will far outreach the benefits derived. i would hope that the facility used for making the mix is properly supervised for that reason alone.
Hopefully, the "powers that be" will follow Brazil's example in this regard andeliminate that cunundrum.

TB

Hi folks,
ive been watching the comments around for the last 2 weeks and it is quite a lot of amusement even though serious topics. This making of Ethanol is just a fu from the likes of Al Gore and Europeans who got no other worries in this world to scam more money out of the poor in this world. You can be damn sure when the US/DR/Europeans are involved in this the 11500 workers can be sure to be exploited to the maximum without beeing able to keep their bellys happy. I am sure the shareholders of the Fenix will be able to buy another pair of pants to cover their oversized McDonalds asses.

SV

There are a large number f people who LOVE to slam corporations and businesses on this board.
Have ANY of you EVER given thought to WHERE THE WORLD WOULD BE if it weren't for these BIG BUSINESSES providing you with the automoviles, the air conditioners, the cook stoves, the PLASTIC items that you use daily, andALL the OTHER items that make your daily lives a helluva lot better than your parents had?
I think most of the negative rhetoric is nothing but a knee-jerk on thepart of those of you who are so damn jealous of the BIG BOYS, you just can't think straight.
READ, dammit, and do a little research into the historical facts that are self-explanatory as to the human progress that has been acomplished "because someone put their money where their mouth was". Otherwise you are nothing but a bunch of foolish whiners.

TB

If it wasn't for BIG NASTY COPORATIONS these knee jerkers would have PC or the Internet to spew their stupidity.

I'm not against progress....But, It did take a very large number of small people to make them BIG IN THE FIRST PLACE....Just think if we were to quit believing MORE IS BETTER, KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES, THIS IS WHAT'S NEEDED TO BE HAPPY, what would we do with all the money we save ! ...Or...What will we do without THEM.....OOOP's What will they do WITHOUT US. The bottom line is....One can not exist with out the other, period....And to think it's from a person who loves money no more or less then TexasBill and AnthonyC.

mrios;

Well, partner, you think you have me pegged, doncha?
Got news for you.
I don't LOVE the money I get each month, but I sure as hell couldn't do without it.
Neither can you do without the money you get by whatever means.
Any medium of exchange is necessary to a rasonable livelihood, doncha think?
So why denegrate those who are fortunate enough to have more of the "medium of exchange" than you do.
And, I agree with you that "one can not exist without the other", so what we have is a 2 way avenue that is full of potholes. We're gonna get bumped whatever we do. We just must make sure we have a damn good set of "shock absorbers", doncha think?
As to it taking "a very large number of small people to make them BIG in the first place", well, all I can say is that ONE of those small people saved his money, invested it wisely, and ended up having a business through which he provided a large number of small people with the means to have the medium of exchange they enjoy.
TB

Part # 1
Texas Bill,
Pegged ? what the hell do you mean by that ? as far as money do you mean Month to Month or mouth to Mouth ? unlike you I'm the working poor, like it or not, try like Week to week after California liberal State Tax [ have you seen the Calif. news lately ? ] I am one of the Millions of hard working poor in America who pay a large % of the tax that keeps this Country going,,,At least I wish I had the "Medium of Exchange" so I could at least keep BULL S**TING That things will rebound.besides you say it's good to have a good pair of "shock absorbers" but it is better to avoid the potholes....From what I've read so far from you, you sound like one of the ones with the INSIDERS SECRETS on investment who invested wisely with the small group and ended up having the means to enjoy the "Medium of exchange" you and them enjoy today. you probably invested in Communist Chinese Market for those do give big dividends MANY HAVE LOST, SO FEW CAN BENEFIT........

Part #2
Wild Bill,
Just look at our Markets......is that it ? or what ! almost a 7 plus trillion dept. First wave of baby boomers estimated 80 Million extra in the next 1-12 years who will draw from Social Security, who by the way put more Taxable income into our economy then any other age group in U.S history, how about those 401 K's [early retirement yeah...right !] which has been invested into the U.S Real Estate Market... I ask ? What is the current value of your home lately ? ...But your from Texas right ! .....After all being Texan is all about John Wayne, Buffalo Bill and "Don't forget the Alamo" right !!!!!. When will you realize that if one American benefits, all Americans Benefit.

OK, partner, you think that I'm amoung the nouvea riche? Let me tell you a couple of things.
I grew up in South Texas during the Great Depression and was fortunate enough to have a Father who worked steady during that time. That didn't mean we had a lot. We did have a garden, spent a lot of weekends during the summer picking produce and canning it for shares.
I made a little "spending money" by mowing lawns and deliverig the newspaper. That got me a little bit of entertainment on Saturday afternoon at the local cinema.
When I graduated from High School I joined the USAF. That was during WWII. After the war, I went to college under theGI Bill for a couple of years, then went into Aviation Cadets, graduating in '52. I stayed in until retirement as a Captain in '70.
I started a flight school and charter business In Waco and operated it until '86 when I closed it down as not being too profitable in a town where the mindset wasn't about aviation.

That's when I "retired" for the second time in my life. This time on Social Security. Myfolks had left me their small house, so I sold the one I had along with that one and bought a boat in Corpus. I spent a lot oftime on thewater, because mooring at a dock was too expensive. Besides, it was cheaper than rent.
I enentually ended up here in the DR, married to a very lovely Dominican lady with 3 young boys. Right now, about 1/3 of my pay goes toward buying an annuity for her to live on after I kick the bucket. Being 81, that may not be too long in the future.
So, you see, you inferred jealous accusations andcomments about me are categorically way off base. In fact, you probably make more than I do since I retired before the big pay raises went through for the military.
You wanna apologize now, or later???
BTW, we do live month to month down here, same as you.
Go figure. Not all Expats are rich old coots.

TexasBill

TexasBill,
Sir, with all do respect I had no idea you were retired and Vet at that, you do indeed have lived a very interesting life, and now as far as an APOLOGY you got it, you are one of Millions in America in the same situation [ my parents included ]. I just hope that when I am entitled to some of that Social Security benefits at age 65, if I live so long it will be there. Meanwhile I'm planning on doing the early retirement after working all my life, I at least want to enjoy what little time I have left on earth. Have you ever wondered why so many in America are moving to Costa Rica, Panama. Sad that this Generation will never appreciate your Generations Sacrifice and Sufferings . By the way I love flying, but due to my economic situation I was forced to sell my Rans S-14 5 months ago.
HAT'S OFF TO YOU...Sir.

Every now and then "Reality Bites"

mrios;

Apology accepted.

I would caution you, however to be sure of your target the next time you loose your temper over the situation which ALL of us face. That of the dwindling purchase power we have enjoyed for so many years.
Today's society is far cry from theone I grew up in and enjoyed so much. The pressure of everyday living just got the best of me and I took the easy way out by vacating my country and moving to another.
Do I regret it? I do in many ways; mainly in the area of health care. My Medicare does me absolutely no good down here since it doesn't pay a damn cent. And I still must pay for the insurance attached to it since Congress has given some relief through the TriCareFor Life program passed a few years ago. That does help somewhat, but thedoctors here charge Expats more than Dominicans for the same services. It's a "Catch-22" proposition no matter what.
BTW, if you would care to learn abit more about me, check into my Web Site at http://www.texasbill.com.

TexasBill,
I will check out your web-site and will email you direct.

I just recalled an email I received back in February inquiring for someone to contact in the Pepillo Salcedo area (thats Manzanillo) abouta a plant to be built there which would prodice biodiesel and vegetable oil from a plant I had never heard of.
This email was from a Steve Chaisson of the Green Energy Tech. company in California.
Just wonder if it could be the same outfit with a name change to fit the DR registration requirements, since the OP mentioned Dominican investors as being a party to the plant.
I recall recommending an individual in Manzanillo who would be reliable but have not heard from either since then, except for a thank you email. The biodiesel production was to be used in-house if I recall correctly, so if it is the same company, the OP referenceto biodiesel production is a smokescreen.
Guess that shoots down the "sugarcane" part for ethanol, HUH?

TB