4 min read
0 comments
Eike Batista's “Super cana” promises more biomass per hectare and doubles national production!
A “super cane”, an innovative project designed by the businessman Eike Batista, has once again stirred up the sugar-energy sector after a billion-dollar announcement.
The investment group Brasilinvest, led by the businessman Mario Garnero, committed to a contribution of $500M monthly to develop this new variety of sugarcane.
The investment involves resources from funds Abu Dhabi Investment Group (ADIG), from the United Arab Emirates, and general finance, from United States.
- US Army intelligence analyst sentenced to 7 years in prison for selling military secrets to China
- Chevrolet in crisis in Brazil? Rumors point to risk of closing factories, halting production and future as an importer, like Ford
- Chinese man unknowingly buys confidential state secrets for one dollar
- Concrete or Asphalt — Find out which material offers more benefits
According to Batista, this new variety could be a game changer in the production of biofuels, as produces two to three times more ethanol per hectare and 10 to 12 times more biomass compared to traditional cane.
Luis Rubio, CEO of BRXe and partner of the businessman, explained that there are 17 varieties or clones of super cane, the most promising being SC157070.
The project is expected to start generating revenue from 2028.
A promising innovation or a risky bet?
Despite Batista's enthusiasm, not everyone in the sector believes in the potential of super cane. Rubens OmettoCEO of Cosan (CSAN3), revealed that his company has already studied this technology, but decided do not move forward.
For him, the great revolution in the sugar-energy sector will come from second generation ethanol (E2G), a technology that allows more biofuel to be extracted from conventional sugarcane waste.
Even with this resistance, the promise of a significant increase in ethanol production attracts attention.
The question that remains is: If all the sugarcane grown in Brazil were replaced by super sugarcane, how much ethanol could be produced?
The impact of super sugarcane on national ethanol production
The consulting StoneX estimates that ethanol production in Brazil, totaling the Central-South and North-Northeast regions, must reach 37,4 billion liters in the harvest 2024/2025.
Of this total, 8,33 billion liters (22,3%) will come from corn ethanol, while the remainder will come from conventional sugarcane.
For the cycle 2025/2026, StoneX has not yet released full estimates for the North-Northeast, but there are some preliminary projections.
Marcelo Bonifacio, an analyst at the consultancy, explains that the region should keep its sugarcane ethanol production stable, while corn ethanol could grow around 300 million liters with new plants coming into operation, such as Inpasa in Balsas (MA) and another unit in the Para, scheduled for the end of 2025.
If we apply the super sugarcane yield to the current numbers, Brazil could increase its production to values between 74,8 billion and 112,2 billion liters of ethanol in the harvest 2024/2025.
FOR 2025/2026, this number would be between 74,2 billion and 111,3 billion liters.
Super sugarcane vs. corn: which has greater potential?
The growth of corn ethanol in Brazil has been significant, but Luis Rubio argues that this comparison makes no sense.
“Corn is a completely different crop, a short crop that can be stored and used throughout the year”, argues the CEO of BRXe.
The numbers reinforce this difference.
According to Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Union (Unica), 1 ton of corn can generate between 380 and 410 liters of ethanol, While 1 ton of sugarcane produces just 43 liters of biofuel.
This disparity makes corn ethanol seen as a viable alternative, especially in regions where sugarcane production is limited.
Challenges for implementing super cane
Despite the theoretical advantages, the large-scale adoption of super cane faces significant challenges. The sector still needs to:
- More scientific studies to prove the viability of the new variety.
- Government support to encourage its implementation.
- Adapted infrastructure to process a larger volume of biomass.
- Market acceptance, especially large fuel plants and distributors.
Furthermore, issues such as pest resistance, production cost and environmental impact still need to be further explored before super cane becomes a reality in Brazilian fields.
The future of super sugarcane in Brazil
Even with uncertainties, the million-dollar investment and the potential to triple ethanol production make super cane a project that deserves attention.
If testing and implementation are successful, Brazil could consolidate itself as the largest producer of ethanol of the world, expanding its share in the global biofuels market.
The expectation now is to follow the next steps of the project and see if, in fact, this innovation will become a reality or if it will be just another chapter in the long history of revolutionary promises made by businessman Eike Batista.
