QCOSTARICA – Palm producers claim to have sufficient inventory and are asking for exclusivity in the supply of raw material for the production of biofuels.
Industry representatives argue that they currently have a surplus of 130,000 tons of oil being exported in order to generate biofuel in other countries.
The proposal submitted by the producers to lawmakers in the Special Standing Committee on the Environment (Comisión Permanente Especial de Ambiente) aims to “… contribute to security, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, environmental conservation and the revitalization of the agricultural sector.”
Enrique Ramirez, representative of the cooperative sector, told Elmundo.cr that “… If the program is not attractive for domestic producers it will only be worth importing alcohol and oil from other countries, and does not meet one of the objectives of the law which is to promote agriculture. ”
“… The problems faced are related to the costs of palm production in the country as they are very high compared to other countries. Added to this is the abandonment faced by local governments in terms of maintenance of cantonal roads. “