International Leaders Tour the State’s Ethanol Production Chain
by Noah Fish (Post Bulletin/AgriNews) High-level officials from Middle Eastern and African countries were in Minnesota this week to learn more about the U.S. ethanol production process.
The state tour, which kicked off in Eyota at the Kwik Trip fuel blending site on Wednesday, was hosted by the U.S. Grains Council, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
The visitors included officials from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Madagascar. All of the locations are exploring ways to expand ethanol use to address environmental and fuel quality concerns.
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According to the MCGA, the two-day tour showcased Minnesota’s ethanol industry and its production process all the way from farms to plants and pumps. The goal was to demonstrate how the U.S. is a valuable trade partner for renewable energy.
“They can come to Minnesota and find out the process for how we blend ethanol with gasoline,” said Mitch Coulter, biofuels director for MCGA. “They get the opportunity to see a farmer from feedstock all the way through to a refinery, and then fuel distribution.”
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During the tour in Minnesota the group stopped at an ethanol retailer, two refineries and an ethanol plant. The group ended the trip at a crop farm in Wood Lake. He said the stop in Eyota at the Kwik Trip site was a good chance for the group to see distribution on a large scale.
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“One of the quickest and easiest ways for these countries to reach some of the early goals is to blend more ethanol into their fuel supply,” said Coulter. “That’s why there’s so much interest around ethanol right now.”
E5, E10 and E20 blends are available in some of the countries in the region, said Ramy Taieb, regional director of the Middle East and Africa for the U.S. Grains Council., but they are looking to the U.S. to nail down a more large-scale approach for ethanol. READ MORE
Overseas buyers will get look at ethanol industry during tours Thursday in Willmar and Granite Falls (West Central Tribune)
Foreign officials visit Granite Falls ethanol plant (St James News)
