Expert Calls for Producing Motor Fuel from Farm ProductsChina, a country increasingly dependent on foreign oil, should try greater efforts to produce oil substitutes from farm products such as methane and alcohol.To make fuels from farm products is also a good way to help farmers out of their difficulties in grain sale. This is proposed by Lu Ming, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) who has been here attending its annual session. It is compatible with conditions in China which is rich in biological resources and a major grain producer in the world, Lu said in an interview with Xinhua. "China could use its excess farm products to make alcoholic fuels," he said. The expert, who is also a vice chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association and a former deputy minister of agriculture, called it an imperative, strategic issue to find a substitute for oil. According to the expert, China currently consumes 40 million tons of gasoline annually and is expected to consume 45-48 million tons a year by 2005. In the coming five years, the country may not have to increase its oil imports if alcohol is used as an additive for oil. At a ratio of 100:15, China needs six million tons of motor alcohol fuel every year. When three tons of corn make one ton of alcohol, 18 million tons of corn are needed to produce motor alcohol a year. As the technology to produce alcohol from straw, leaves and garbage is ripe, China has the potential to turn out 50 million tons of alcoholic fuel a year, according to the expert. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |