Title: Environmental and economic study for a prospective ethanol industry in Fiji

Authors: Vineet Vishal Chandra; Sarah L. Hemstock; Antoine De Ramon N'Yeurt; Dinesh Surroop

Addresses: Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development The University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji ' Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln Lincolnshire, LN1 3DY, UK ' Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development The University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

Abstract: The study was performed to study the effect of producing ethanol from molasses or sugarcane juice to blend with gasoline and produce E10 fuel for the Fijian car fleet. Two cases were developed to assess the economic and environmental impacts of producing ethanol from these feedstocks and blending with imported motor spirit. It was found to offer many benefits such as Fiji can earn approximately FJ$ 7.2 million and save 22,730 tCO₂ emissions annually with providing employment to many. The continuous increase in the importation of motor spirit demands the biofuel policy to be reviewed to encourage (E10) blending locally. Conversion of sugarcane juice to ethanol directly could sustain the current income generated from sugar and molasses exported. This sounds to be future solution to sustain the industry after the end of EU sugar quota and if the sugar price offered thereafter are not profitable.

Keywords: sugarcane; molasses; ethanol fuel; emissions; mitigation; Fiji.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2017.088866

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2017 Vol.11 No.2, pp.146 - 163

Received: 25 Nov 2016
Accepted: 16 Jul 2017
Published online: 21 Dec 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article