STOCKHOLM, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish environmental technology company SEKAB has signed an agreement for the supply of bio-ethanol verified for its sustainability with LDC Bioenergia, a Brazilian ethanol and sugar industry leader and part of the French group Louis Dreyfus.
"The agreement safeguards supplies of additional volumes of ethanol verified in its entire production chain for environmental and social sustainability," says Anders Fredriksson, Executive Vice President, SEKAB Biofuels & Chemicals.
"As one of the largest buyers of Brazilian ethanol, we have an important role to play in developing best practice and showing the way to the industry," says Fredriksson.
In addition to LDC Bioenergia, SEKAB have sustainability agreements with four Brazilian ethanol producers - Cosan, Guarani, Novoamerica and Alcoeste. The first deliveries are on their way to Europe, and verified sustainable E85 (for flexifuel cars) and ED95 (for heavy vehicles) will be on sale in Sweden after the summer holiday period.
Zero tolerance
The verified sustainable ethanol is produced from sugarcane grown on farms applying zero tolerance to child and slave labour and to farming in the Amazon region.
Verified sustainable ethanol will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 85 per cent compared to petrol.
"This initiative is the first of its kind in the world and a major step for speeding up the replacement of petrol and diesel," says Anders Fredriksson. "The criteria will gradually be developed over the coming years and synchronised with international regulations when these are in place."
To enforce this standard, production is monitored and verified by independent quality assurance companies.
Dispelling anxiety
The verified ethanol should help dispel the anxiety regarding the sustainability of ethanol.
"We hope verified ethanol will help curb the criticism of the sugarcane industry and the unpleasant campaigning against the Brazilian ethanol thereby dispelling doubts about its climate, environmental and social consequences," says Anders Fredriksson.
SEKAB is the leading European supplier of renewable fuel. The company focuses on developing the market for bio-ethanol in Northern Europe and the construction and operation of large-scale ethanol production facilities. SEKAB is also a world leader in development of technology and production processes for ethanol from cellulose, with a second generation bio-ethanol pilot plant operating since 2004. Turnover for 2007 amounted to 2 billion SEK. Head office and pilot plant are in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.
Contact Anders Fredriksson, EVP, SEKAB BioFuels Phone: +46-70-610-11-77
Contact: Anders Fredriksson, EVP, SEKAB BioFuels, Phone: +46-70-610-11-77
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