wazua Fri, Jan 10, 2025
Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics | Log In | Register

Ethanol....Alternative Fuel Source
Kaigangio
#1 Posted : Thursday, January 09, 2014 10:02:50 AM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 2/27/2007
Posts: 2,768
Hi all,

I would like to start a small scale production of ethanol for Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) as an alternative fuel source.

I have done some small scale research around on the subject of ethanol and found that locally, the petroleum fuel that we buy from petrol stations is actually a blended version called E10 having 10% Ethanol and 90% unleaded petrol by volume for petrol fuel and B5 having 5% Ethanol and 95% Diesel by volume respectively.

The cars that are being manufactured (actually from the year 2001) are FFVs, at least American, European, I don't know about Japanese, but most likely and they can run on Ethanol.

The advanced changes made in the FFVs engine hardware has made it possible for the vehicles to run almost entirely on ethanol. So far E85 (85% ethanol and 15% Unleaded Petroleum) blended fuel has been on sale in the American and European markets and I am fully convinced that soon in Kenya we will be using it.

The most interesting thing that struck me is that most of the car owners are driving these FFVs but they do not know it!

So, having this background knowledge, I wish to venture into Ethanol production business with a starting capacity of about 40,000 litres per year (not little for a starter).

What I need to know is who issues the licence/permit for the Ethanol manufacture?

What are the mandatory requirements that one must satisfy before the licence is issued?

Any other constructive ideas will be most welcome and appreciated.
...besides, the presence of a safe alone does not signify that there is money inside...
Chaka
#2 Posted : Thursday, January 09, 2014 2:49:33 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 2/16/2007
Posts: 2,114
@Kaigangio,
This is news to me,
Some years back there was a blended fuel called gasohol(sp) but this was discontinued for reasons that I don't know(may be at the time petrol was still cheap compared to ethanol production)
If this is the case why has Mumias Sugar not fast tracked their ethanol plant and will you be able to compete with established distillers ?
Kaigangio
#3 Posted : Sunday, January 12, 2014 3:59:54 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 2/27/2007
Posts: 2,768
Chaka wrote:
@Kaigangio,
This is news to me,
Some years back there was a blended fuel called gasohol(sp) but this was discontinued for reasons that I don't know(may be at the time petrol was still cheap compared to ethanol production)
If this is the case why has Mumias Sugar not fast tracked their ethanol plant and will you be able to compete with established distillers ?


@Chaka

It is true that the petrol blending programme was there previously but it collapsed around 1992 or 1993 due to two things:

1. There was production problems, namely among others, high cost of distillation machinery, unreliable source of and costly feedstocks and high cost of boiler fuel etc. These factors led to unsustainable ethanol pricing.

2. There were extremely few vehicles at the time in Kenya to utilise the ethanol blended fuel as their serious manufacture started at around 2001. This made the blended petroleum uneconomical to produce.

Mumias Sugar Company is already into this biz...I do remember in early 2013 Spectre International Ltd had closed their distillery temporarily because of lack of molasses...60% of molasses supply to SIL was from Mumias Sugar until they started their own distillery which has an estimated annual capacity of 22 million litres...

I heard sometime back that a law was to be put in place by KSB requiring any new entrant into the sugar industry to include ethanol production as a part of its core business...I don't know if it was ever enacted and effected...

Like I said mine is only a small scale thingy on a first footing.

...besides, the presence of a safe alone does not signify that there is money inside...
Njung'e
#4 Posted : Sunday, January 12, 2014 11:36:10 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 2/7/2007
Posts: 11,935
Location: Nairobi
@Kaigangio,

1. Do we have FFVs in Kenya? I highly doubt since this engines are specifically modified to take Ethanol whose O2 presence level is different from that of gasoline.
2.Only two countries in the world have mandated the use of upto E25 and that is Brazil itself and Paraguay.Most countries have the E10 band although this basically is a band for E5 to E24.
3.Licensing in Kenya is done by KSB as it is assumed most ethanol is supposed to come from cane.There was a committee chaired by Gideon Moi in the last government to streamline ethanol production in the country and come up with a road-map but i guess that is as good as forgotten.
4.You may think of making ethanol from alternative raw materials such as potatoes,sorghum or cassava,however,the economic viability of it all i wouldn't know but i have reasons to believe it would not be cheaper than ethanol made from molasses.
5.For you to be licensed to produce ethanol from molasses,you must show prove of capacity to produce the same as a by-product.
6.Point 5 above would mean owning a milling plant thus all requirements and licensing of the same would apply.
7.Distribution of ethanol in Kenya is strictly under the tight grip of KRA.Blending still remains a pipe dream as it has never been legislated.
8.If point 7 above isn't a business killer,consider that for you to break even,your production costs will be in the region of Kshs 70 a litre.Imposed taxes will generally amount to about Kshs 120 a litre (Yep,KRA makes more money from Ethanol than the owner of the distillerySad ).At a total cost of roughly Kshs 190 ex-factory and blending at 15%,would your E15 be cheaper or more expensive than the current cost of 1 litre of petrol for you to make business and cents??

Sorry.I am not trying to kill your dream.Just a few facts.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
thuks
#5 Posted : Sunday, September 14, 2014 2:32:34 PM
Rank: Veteran


Joined: 10/8/2008
Posts: 1,575
Njung'e wrote:
@Kaigangio,

1. Do we have FFVs in Kenya? I highly doubt since this engines are specifically modified to take Ethanol whose O2 presence level is different from that of gasoline.
2.Only two countries in the world have mandated the use of upto E25 and that is Brazil itself and Paraguay.Most countries have the E10 band although this basically is a band for E5 to E24.
3.Licensing in Kenya is done by KSB as it is assumed most ethanol is supposed to come from cane.There was a committee chaired by Gideon Moi in the last government to streamline ethanol production in the country and come up with a road-map but i guess that is as good as forgotten.
4.You may think of making ethanol from alternative raw materials such as potatoes,sorghum or cassava,however,the economic viability of it all i wouldn't know but i have reasons to believe it would not be cheaper than ethanol made from molasses.
5.For you to be licensed to produce ethanol from molasses,you must show prove of capacity to produce the same as a by-product.
6.Point 5 above would mean owning a milling plant thus all requirements and licensing of the same would apply.
7.Distribution of ethanol in Kenya is strictly under the tight grip of KRA.Blending still remains a pipe dream as it has never been legislated.
8.If point 7 above isn't a business killer,consider that for you to break even,your production costs will be in the region of Kshs 70 a litre.Imposed taxes will generally amount to about Kshs 120 a litre (Yep,KRA makes more money from Ethanol than the owner of the distillerySad ).At a total cost of roughly Kshs 190 ex-factory and blending at 15%,would your E15 be cheaper or more expensive than the current cost of 1 litre of petrol for you to make business and cents??

Sorry.I am not trying to kill your dream.Just a few facts.


Was your idea killed or you started?
Read about sweet sorghum and the idea sounds viable.
fao.org/docrep/t4470e/t4470e07.htm
I care!
Tebes
#6 Posted : Thursday, September 25, 2014 12:05:28 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 11/26/2008
Posts: 2,097
Njung'e wrote:
@Kaigangio,

1. Do we have FFVs in Kenya? I highly doubt since this engines are specifically modified to take Ethanol whose O2 presence level is different from that of gasoline.
2.Only two countries in the world have mandated the use of upto E25 and that is Brazil itself and Paraguay.Most countries have the E10 band although this basically is a band for E5 to E24.
3.Licensing in Kenya is done by KSB as it is assumed most ethanol is supposed to come from cane.There was a committee chaired by Gideon Moi in the last government to streamline ethanol production in the country and come up with a road-map but i guess that is as good as forgotten.
4.You may think of making ethanol from alternative raw materials such as potatoes,sorghum or cassava,however,the economic viability of it all i wouldn't know but i have reasons to believe it would not be cheaper than ethanol made from molasses.
5.For you to be licensed to produce ethanol from molasses,you must show prove of capacity to produce the same as a by-product.
6.Point 5 above would mean owning a milling plant thus all requirements and licensing of the same would apply.
7.Distribution of ethanol in Kenya is strictly under the tight grip of KRA.Blending still remains a pipe dream as it has never been legislated.
8.If point 7 above isn't a business killer,consider that for you to break even,your production costs will be in the region of Kshs 70 a litre.Imposed taxes will generally amount to about Kshs 120 a litre (Yep,KRA makes more money from Ethanol than the owner of the distillerySad ).At a total cost of roughly Kshs 190 ex-factory and blending at 15%,would your E15 be cheaper or more expensive than the current cost of 1 litre of petrol for you to make business and cents??

Sorry.I am not trying to kill your dream.Just a few facts.



@Njunge
Ethanol used to manufacture Power alcohol is not subject to excise duty.
"Never regret, if its good, its wonderful. If its bad, its experience."
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Copyright © 2025 Wazua.co.ke. All Rights Reserved.