Eike Batistawhich was already among the seven richest men on the planet, presented on Tuesday (25), in Rio de Janeiro, its newest venture in the agribusiness sector: supercanaone sugar cane genetically improved that promises greater productivity.
The entrepreneur will be project consultant, but will be entitled to convert his participation into actions in the future.
O BRASILINVEST GROUPwhose Chairman has businessman Mario Garnero, with investors from the United Arab Emirates and the United States, will contribute about $ 500 million in the project.
The main objective is the production of ethanol for aviation.
“It is a plant with turbocharged photosynthesis. It produces up to three times more ethanol per hectare and up to 12 times more biomass. It is a revolution similar to that that occurred in Brazil with paper and cellulose, when everyone used the pine tree, which took 20 years to grow, and exchanged for eucalyptus, which develops in just seven years, ”explained Eike in an interview with CNN.
Currently, Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world, with more than 650 million tons harvested annually, and the second largest ethanol producer, behind only the United States.
According to the entrepreneur, the country’s vocation for the sector, coupled with cutting -edge technology, can turn the project into a revolution for clean energy.
“The productivity of this sugarcane allows the price of ethanol to be literally the same as kerosene. There will be no dispute. They will use clean fuel, ”said Eike.
Use of biomass
In addition to ethanol, the project foresees the use of sugarcane bagasse for the production of biodegradable packages, cutlery and straws.
The manufacture of these products will occur in countries such as Dubai and the United States and, in the future, in Brazil.
Already the production of Supercana will be held in the municipality of Gossipin the North Fluminense, a strategic location due to the proximity to the port of Açu, used for the export of products such as iron ore.
Scientific Basis of Investment
The study that founded the investment is led by administrator Luis Carlos Rubio and agronomist Sizuo Matsuoka.
Rubio and Matsuoka have known each other since 2002, when their paths crossed at Votorantim New Business (VNN), an investment arm of the group belonging to the Ermírio de Moraes family.
“We did a mapping work from Norte Fluminense, with satellite images to identify areas subject to flooding and soil analysis. We mapped 200 thousand hectares in the region. The great inductor of the project was the port of Açu, ”explained Luis Carlos Rubio.
