Hi All

Biofuels?  Honey going cheap?!  Just thinking out loud ...

4 million colonies in Argentina.
Guessing at production: 50 kg/colony?  Too high?
Argentina's production maybe 200 million kg.
Theoretical yield of ethanol 200*0.48 = 96 million kg
Ethanol by volume 96/0.798 = 121.7 million litres
bioethanol.
(Just remembered that honey isn't pure sugar, so round this
down to 91.2 million litres)

Is this a lot? In 2004 Brazil produced 16.4 billion litres
on 4.5% of their crop land.  The country currently produces
about 37% of their transportation fuel needs from sugarcane
bioethanol.  Brazil, if you're still with me, has 188
million people and Argentina 36 million.  So Argentina
should need 3.06 billion litres to get to the same
self-sufficiency level as Brazil.

Could they do it on honey alone?  It seems as if they could
already be 3% of the way there!  (100*91.2/3064)  Or 1% of
the way to full self-sufficiency.

So, is this the way forward for the industry
internationally?!  I'm kidding!  Though it does make you
think ...

Gavin

PS  The back of the same envelope that generated the data
above also suggested that the raw material (honey) cost for
1 litre of bioethanol would be $3.13 at a honey price of 65
cents per lb.

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