Carbohydrate based economy

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday November 03, 2002 21:38 by Raymond McInerney raymond.mcinerney at ul dot ie

Carbohydrate based industry would provide Ireland’s transport bio-fuels as required by the E.U. directives. Additionally the supply of feedstock chemicals needed to maintain vital industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Fertilisers, biodegradable polymers and bonded wood products on which much of our industrial revenue is dependent would be assured.

Strong secure bases in the Bio-refinery industry will not only protect our G.N.P. but will also address the issue of ‘Compliance with Environmental Protocols’ by productively recycling Carbon dioxide as well as Municipal and Farm Waste mountains.

Properly sited, each Bio-refinery will generate revenues, supply essential energy and chemicals, enhance Agro-economics and create new employment opportunities in rural areas. At the same time the initiative will allow industries that produce organic wastes to expand their enterprises without damaging the environment.

Based on the expertise that will be acquired in supplying some forty refineries that can be serviced in Ireland, this country can become the major international provider of these Plants, and the Centre of Excellence.

In Europe alone, the estimated market over the next ten years is €7.5 Billion. Eastern Europe and North Africa would further contribute to that market.

The local economy served by each Bio-refinery would benefit from an injection of €3,600,000 annually for supplying biomass and some €3.5 million in wages to local workers. This equates to more than €25 million annually when a multiplier factor of 8 is applied.

Depending on the spectrum of products produced, a standard €18 million plant could yield a surplus of between €5.5 million and €10.4 million annually.

Irrespective of how Oil Producers and Processors manipulate the price of Oil to maintain the volume of usage, the concern about the reality of Global Warming, Acid Rain, Smog and the pollution of Aquifers – all of which add measurably to world-wide ill-health - impacts heavily on National economics. It is envisaged that the law, taxation, depletion, and environmental considerations will lead to a phased reduction of fossil fuel consumption, and to eventual substitution everywhere with Bio-fuels produced by Bio-refineries.