Biofuels

Biofuels
  • A potential of 7.4 million hectares suitable for the development of agrofuels. Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura), 2011
  • Planned increase of the area for palm tree farming and sugarcane plantations to over 3 million hectares over the next 10 years. National Development Plan, 2010
  • The seventh country worldwide and third in Latin America in terms of areas dedicated to sugarcane plantations. FAO, 2010
  • As much as 41% of palm oil sales were used to produce biodiesel. National Federation of Palm Oil Growers (Federación Nacional de Cultivadores de Palma de Aceite, Fedepalma), 2012
  • Colombia has a fuel mixture policy in place to promote the increase in production of biofuels in the future. Ministry of Agriculture, 2011
  • The yield per hectare of palm oil crops is above that of other oilseeds. Fedepalma, 2012

Business Opportunities

Production

  • Ethanol: Colombia has the world's highest sugarcane production yield. FAO, 2010
  • Biodiesel: Colombia is the world's fifth palm oil producer and first in Latin America. FAO, 2010
  • From the biomass generated in the cultivation of palm oil, it is possible to generate energy from methane and other byproducts. International Palm Oil Conference, 2012
  • Biodiesel produced in Colombia reduces GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions by approximately 86%. This is above the standards in Europe and the United States. International Palm Oil Conference, 2012

Research & development

  • Network of R&D&I Centres in support of the industry, such as the Centre for Technological Research and Innovation in Palm Oil (CENIPALMA) and the Centre for Sugarcane Research (CENICAÑA).

Regions

  • Caribbean
  • Santander and Norte de Santander
  • Altillanura