In the framework of the V International Biofuel Conference, the need to continue advancing with the implementation of renewable energy in the biofuel sector was mentioned. Within these, both bioethanol and biodiesel and even biogas were zoom.
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This was demonstrated, Claudia Calero, president of Asocaña, who in an interview with Portfolio revealed the results that the biogas could contribute to reduce the missing molecule in the country.
“With the bioethanol, what we are seeing is that, from the vinazas, we could also produce biomethane, biogas and biomethane. And that biomethane could contribute to the gas supply required in the southwestern, specifically in the Valle del Cauca”Said Calero.
In addition, he stressed that to materialize, 80 million cubic meters of biomethane would be produced that could cover 40% of the residential gas market of the Cauca Valley.
“These processes are invented. The question is not whether we can do it, but if we will let it pass”he added.
Biogas Energy Generation Plant in Cesar.
What is missing?
According to the union leader so that the production of this biogas can be materialized must be submitted to law 1715 of 2014 in order to Deliver benefits to biogas producers.
“This law gives tax benefits for biomethane projects for the purpose of generating electricity, for example, for mobility. Then, details should be made in that law to be possible. We need for these projects to close, that certain aspects of the current policy of the legal framework are clarified that definitely allow us to take these projects to another level. It is only as a regulatory issue, let’s say in terms of investments, that is invented.”, Said Calero.
Meanwhile, he assured that if these changes in the legislative are achieved, the construction of the plants through which the production of that biogas would be carried out would take about two years to be built.
“Ethanol producers, who are six plants in the south -spoil. They would be coinciding and agglutinating efforts to make these biomethane projects come true in the Colombian southwest. These projects are given thanks to by -products that are obtained from high organic load. In these distillation processes. In this case, we separate the alcohols in the distillation processes of the production of ethanol, some vinazas are obtained What we do is take them to biodigesters and those biodigesters produce biogas and another process to obtain biomethane.“He added.
Claudia Calero, president of Asocaña
Courtesy: Asocaña
How is bioethanol and what are the projections?
It is noteworthy that bioethanol is one of the mixtures that is used as an additive to gasoline gallons that are marketed nationwide. According to the government, 10% of a gallon contains bioethanol. Thus, he mentioned that it is projected that this biofuel present increases in its production during 2025.
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“We are making our best efforts. We have had an important climatic variability that has caused us to have limitations when harvesting the cane. However, in these windows where time gives us. What we are doing is production to the limit and we hope to close this year about 420 million liters of production”the union leader said.
According to numbers from Asocaña as of March 2025, there have been 131 million liters of bioethanol, That is, 18% of our projection has been reached.
“We are adjusting. We ended 2024 with 406 million liters of bioethanol and we hope to reach 420 million liters of bioethanol this year. Then it is that increased gap. Obviously this all depends on the climatic conditions, but we hope that in this second semester of the year the weather conditions are neutral,” He pointed out.
Leidy Ruiz
Portfolio journalist
