The use of ethanol will help Guatemala reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while diversifying the energy sources of Central America's most populous country. From 2024, the blend of 10% of the biofuel will be mandatory in all gasoline in the country, according to the Minister of Energy and Mines, Alberto Pimentel, during the event "Impact of sustainable mobility in Guatemala", on Tuesday (15).

"Minister Pimentel's announcement is excellent news for all of us, as it reinforces the fundamental role of ethanol in the transition to a low-carbon economy, presenting an effective and available alternative in Guatemala", stated the president of the Cane Industry Union. of Sugar and Bioenergy (Unica), Evandro Gussi. He received the information at COP27, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where he is participating in a series of events to show the potential of biofuels in the climate agenda.

With the mixture of 10% ethanol in gasoline, the Guatemalan authorities estimate that emissions of approximately 250,000 tons of CO2 annually are avoided. The measure will help the Central American country, with a strong economy based on agriculture, achieve the commitments assumed in the Paris Agreement. The goal is to reduce 11% of CO2 emissions by 2030.

"Guatemala has enormous productive potential to expand the bioenergy industry, reducing the strong dependence on fossil fuels", explained Unica's executive director, Eduardo Leão de Sousa. "In line with the goals of the Guatemalan government, we had the opportunity to share our Brazilian experience of almost 50 years of use and production of ethanol, in Ethanol Talks, cooperating to leverage the production of biofuel", he added.

Partnership
The Sustainable Mobility: Ethanol Talks Guatemala seminar was promoted in May 2022 by Unica in partnership with ApexBrasil and Apla (Arranjo Produtivo Local do Álcool). The event provided an environment for dialogue and cooperation between experts from both countries to discuss the use of ethanol as an alternative for low-carbon mobility.

In Brazil, all gasoline must contain 27% ethanol. In addition, since 2003 flex fuel vehicles have been circulating, which run on both gasoline and ethanol, in any proportion. The use of ethanol by almost 50% of Otto Cycle cars (light vehicles) prevented the emission of 600 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in almost 20 years.

The cultivation of sugar cane is one of the main drivers of the Guatemalan economy, exporting 70% of sugar production - the country is the sixth largest exporter of the product. The country has been producing ethanol for more than three decades, with an installed production capacity of around 250 million liters per year. There is a surplus of molasses and the installed capacity for ethanol exceeds the estimate needed for the production needed at first. Currently, the biofuel is exported to Europe and the United States.

Model
Minister Alberto Pimentel emphasized, during this week's announcement, that sustainable mobility is a model that many countries around the world are seeking in order to reduce emissions in the transport sector and analyze in the long term how to make transport greener and more sustainable.

"The objectives of this mobility include mitigating climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels, reducing atmospheric pollution, improving air quality, coordinating sustainable mobility policies with energy, environmental, urban and land use planning policies, among others. ", said the minister.

Currently, more than 70 countries in the world already have mandates that establish some level of ethanol blending in gasoline. India, for example, has the goal of reaching 2025 with 20% of mixture, having announced the mark of 10% in 2022.