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Viewing cable 06BOGOTA10235, BIOFUELS IN COLOMBIA

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BOGOTA10235 2006-11-02 22:28 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0235/01 3062228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 022228Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0464
INFO RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS BOGOTA 010235 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO FAITH CORNIELLE WHA/EPSC, JEFFERY IZZO EB/ESC/IECS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG PREL ECON PGOV CO
SUBJECT: BIOFUELS IN COLOMBIA 
 
REF: SECSTATE 164558 
 
 1. Summary: To conserve domestic petroleum resources and 
provide a boost to Colombia's sugar sector, Colombian law 
mandates that 10/90 ethanol be made available for purchase in 
Colombia's five largest cities by the end of 2006, and 
throughout the country by 2012.  Colombia's sugar industry 
produces nearly 100 million gallons of ethanol per year, and 
plans to double this amount by the end of 2008.  Currently, 
domestic production of ethanol slightly exceeds demand, while 
the industry's planned expansion should allow sufficient 
supply to convert all gasoline sales in Colombia to 10 
percent ethanol by 2012.  It is unclear how much excess 
capacity will be available for export as ethanol capacity is 
limited given the relative profitability of raw sugar.  Other 
Colombian producers are experimenting with biodiesel created 
from yucca and palm oil for domestic use or export to the 
United States.  Colombia's investment climate is improving, 
as new laws, regulations, and tax incentives are making 
ethanol production an economically viable energy alternative. 
 Colombia's geography and poor physical infrastructure are 
limiting factors in the efficient distribution of fuel, 
including ethanol. End Summary. 
 
 
Colombia Law Requires Ethanol Use 
 
 
2. As a means to extend Colombia's status as a net oil 
exporter, and to support its well developed sugar industry, 
Law 693 of September 2001 requires the Colombian government 
to develop a comprehensive biofuels program.  Law 693 
requires gasoline providers in cities with populations 
greater than 500,000 to offer a 10/90 ethanol mix by the end 
of 2006, with a gradual phase-in of the requirements to 
smaller cities and rural areas by 2012. The GOC's ethanol 
roll-out began in 2005 in the southwest and Colombia's coffee 
region in late 2005, and now includes the departments of 
Cundinamarca, Meta, Casanare, and Boyaca. Bogota joined the 
program in February 2006, while Medellin, Bucaramanga, 
Cartagena, Cucuta, and Pereira will begin offering 10/90 by 
the end of 2006. 
 
 
Big Sugar in Colombia 
 
 
3.  Colombia's sugar growers produce 2.4 million tons of 
sugar per year. The Cauca River Valley is home to 197,000 
hectares of sugarcane and 14 sugar mills.  The mills are 
technologically advanced, and electrically self-sufficient 
via secondary co-generation, which allow sugar mills the 
opportunity to sell excess power to the local grid. 
Sugarcane burning is generally permitted. Mechanical 
harvesting is not yet a common practice in Colombia. The 
industry employs 27,000 people directly and supports 141,000 
workers indirectly through associated relationships.  While 
the industry exports 400,000 tons of sugar a year, ethanol 
exports have been limited due to domestic consumption 
requirements and delays in bringing new ethanol plants on 
line.  It is unclear if Colombia's sugar industry is prepared 
to alter its raw sugar to ethanol production ratio to 
accommodate ethanol exports, especially given the increased 
sugar quota (75,000 tons) that producers plan to fill under 
the free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S.  Colombian 
ethanol is currently allowed to enter the U.S. duty-free 
under the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act 
(ATPDEA), and duty-free treatment will continue for ethanol 
with the FTA. 
 
 
Other Sources of Biofuel 
 
 
4. In addition to ethanol from sugarcane, Colombian 
agricultural producers are evaluating the possibility of 
supplying ethanol made from yucca root.  Two plants are 
currently under construction with a combined capacity of 
32,000 gallons, and should be on line in mid-2007.  In 
addition to ethanol, the GOC is also promoting the use of 
biodiesel, with most attention focused on African Palm oil. 
Although Colombia currently has no domestic capacity to 
produce diesel fuel from palm oil, the GOC hopes to begin 
production by 2008. 
 
Tax Incentives for Biofuels 
 
 
5. Ethanol is exempt from federal and state taxes in 
Colombia.  In addition, in 2006 the GOC provided over USD 40 
million in tax incentives for businesses involved in biofuel 
production. In 2007, in addition to tax incentives, the GOC 
has earmarked USD 30 million USD for special grants to 
promote locating ethanol plants in less developed areas (such 
as the Pacific Coast). 
 
 
140,000 Vehicles Run on Natural Gas 
 
 
6. The Colombian government promotes natural gas automobile, 
bus, and taxi fleets. According to GOC statistics, nearly 
140,000 vehicles use natural gas, including the new Bus Rapid 
Transit (BRT) systems found in major cities throughout 
Colombia.  Natural gas fueling stations are now common in 
larger cities, and over 4,000 gasoline to natural gas 
conversions are made to vehicles each month. 
 
 
Investment Climate, Energy Infrastructure, and Industrial 
Infrastructure 
 
 
7. The Uribe administration stepped up the economic 
liberalization begun in the early 1990's and is committed to 
an open investment regime.  There are few general 
restrictions on land or other property ownership, and the 
Colombian constitution guarantees the rights of private 
property holders. Colombia is privatizing its state-owned 
natural gas distribution company and some of its electrical 
power and transmission companies. American energy companies 
such as ExxonMobil, Occidental Oil and Drummond Coal have 
multi-million dollar investments in the exploration and 
extraction of Colombian energy.  With the improving security 
situation, many more American companies are exploring 
investment opportunities in the Colombian energy market. 
 
8. Colombia generates two thirds of its electrical power from 
hydro-electric sources. The other third is from 
thermo-electric sources such as gas or coal . Colombia is 
actively trying to increase its thermo-electric capacity by 
50 percent by 2010 due to continuing drought issues that have 
resulted in electrical rationing or shortages in many parts 
of Colombia. 
 
9. Colombia uses three types of gasoline for fuel 
consumption; regular, diesel, and a special high octane fuel 
for certain trucks. Regular gas is used by 46 percent of all 
motor vehicles, diesel by 37 percent, and special high octane 
gas by 4 percent. 
 
10. Gasoline for domestic consumption in Colombia is refined 
by Ecopetrol at refineries in Cartagena and Barrancaberjama 
along with very small refineries (less than 2000 barrels a 
day) in Orito, Putumayo and in Tibu, Norte de Santander. 
Energy is currently exported out of Covenas, Barranquilla, 
Cartagena and Santa Marta, all on the Atlantic/Caribbean 
coast. Despite two major ports (Buenaventura and Tumaco) on 
the Pacific coast, no energy products are exported from the 
Pacific.  The biggest challenge to energy exportation and 
domestic distribution is the complicated geography of 
Colombia and lack of suitable land transport infrastructure. 
Energy is currently being transported via pipelines, one-lane 
highways, or in the case of coal, railroads. 
 
11. Colombia's four major industrial cities include Bogota, 
Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellin.  Manufactured goods include 
clothing and textiles, leather products, chemicals and 
petrochemicals, processed food and beverages, cement and 
steel products.  Domestic industrial infrastructure is 
adequate for the further development of biofuel alternatives. 
DRUCKER