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BNDES Finances “Green Polyethylene” Production
By Keith R | May 12, 2009 @ 7:20 pm |
Topics: Chemicals, Packaging | No Comments »
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From the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES):
The BNDES approves financing of R$ 555 million for Braskem to produce sugarcane ethylene and polyethylene
- Ethanol Chemistry Project is the first to be supported by the Bank
The BNDES approved R$ 555.6 million in financing for Braskem’s innovative project intended to produce sugarcane ethylene and polyethylene. The total investment is of R$ 800.4 million for a project with processing capacity of 204,000 tons per year of the so-called “green polyethylene”.
This is the first ethanol chemistry project financed by the BNDES. The new plant, with renewable raw materials, will be assembled in the Braskem’s Basic Input Unit located at the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex (State of Rio Grande do Sul) and is expected to start operations in the second half of 2010.
The project is expected to generate around 1,500 jobs during the construction stage and 100 direct jobs in the operational stage.
In addition to the positive impacts on the generation of jobs in the region, the project will have an important environmental impact as the production of ethylene based on renewable raw materials results in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
In order to execute the project, Braskem – a company controlled by the Odebrecht Group – conducted technological research and development at its Technology and Innovation Center in Triunfo. A pilot industrial plant was built especially for the development of the process, which also enabled catalyst testing. For this, the company has relied on the financing from the BNDES, within the scope of the Production Innovation line, amounting to R$ 14.6 million.
Even though sugarcane is a non-fossil raw material, sugarcane polyethylene has the same characteristics as petrochemical polymer. This means that its usage in the processing industry will require no machinery or application changes.
The Technology and Innovation Center in Triunfo is designed to develop products, processes and applications. It amasses 150 researchers and technicians, eleven labs and eight pilot plants to develop, fine-tune and test new products, processes and applications.
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What the Other Guy Blogs About: Renewable Energy in Chile
By Keith R | May 11, 2009 @ 7:43 pm |
Topics: Energy & the Environment, Renewable Sources | No Comments »
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The Reegle Blog has a very good overview of the curent state of development of renewable energy projects in Chile. My only quibble with the article is that it focuses solely on wind and solar projects, omitting other forms of renewable energy under development or being looked at in Chile, such as geothermal (where Chile has interesting potential), wave energy, biofuels, and the use of biodigestors to produce gas to power turbines in a rural setting. Nonetheless, I highly recommend the article. Unless Reegle beats me to it (quite possible, as backlogged as I am!), I plan to do posts on those energy sources in a Chilean context in the near future.
FONTAGRO to Fund IDB Studies on Climate Change Impact on Agriculture
By Keith R | May 5, 2009 @ 7:12 pm |
Topics: Climate Change, Sustainable Agriculture | No Comments »
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From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
FONTAGRO extends agreement with IDB
- The Bank will manage the Fund until 2011 and finance climate change impact studies
The Inter-American Development Bank and the Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO, for its initials in Spanish) have extended until 2011 their agreement whereby the IDB will continue to manage the Fund, which finances, on competitive basis, agricultural research and technological development projects focused on strategic regional problems in the Americas.
FONTAGRO is a consortium created and financed by 14 regional countries* and Spain whose aim is to finance technological development in the rural sector through the creation of alliances of public, private, national and international organizations. It has financed 66 projects totaling $9 million and mobilized $12 million in external resources plus $39 million in member states’ counterpart funds, reaching a total of $60 million during its first 10 years.
IDB specialists believe agriculture is one of the sectors that will be most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the region. Many crops that are crucial for food production are sensitive to temperature and rain pattern changes that can affect both their quality and their yields.
In 2008, the IDB’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) agreed with FONTAGRO to finance three projects on adapting regional productive systems to climate change. These projects will study the vulnerability of crops such as coffee, wheat, corn and potatoes and will be financed with trust fund resources from SECCI’s Multi-donor Fund and from the Japanese and Korean trust funds.
IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno on May 5 met with FONTAGRO President Leopoldo Sánchez and Vice President Arturo Galo, who gave Moreno a plaque in recognition of the IDB’s crucial support during the Fund’s first 10 years.
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* Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Improving Disease Surveillance in Central America / Mejorar vigilancia epidemiológica en América Central
By Keith R | May 1, 2009 @ 6:43 pm |
Topics: Health Issues | No Comments »
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From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
IDB to help boost disease surveillance network in Central America
The Inter-American Development Bank, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and national authorities in Central America, will provide $5 million to strengthen disease surveillance efforts and improve responses to current and future public health emergencies in the isthmus.
The resources are initially earmarked for the Central American region but may be expanded to other countries in Latin America. The IDB is in talks with private foundations and other international organizations to bolster the fund.
“There are few confirmed cases outside of Mexico of the A(H1N1) influenza virus,” said Amanda Glassman, a senior specialist in social development at the IDB. “However, the situation is evolving rapidly and there is a clear need to strengthen public health preparedness throughout the region, particularly in anticipation of flu seasons in the southern hemisphere.”
The IDB will support the creation of a shared database in Central America to provide timely information about disease occurrence and patterns. This will enable public health authorities in the isthmus to take more effective and preventive actions.
The plan is to establish a regional public health laboratory network to confirm cases of infectious diseases that have the potential to cross borders. A regional public health emergency information, communication and response system will further assist authorities in analyzing surveillance data and marshalling information to guide disease prevention and control.
Support will also be provided to purchase anti-viral medications and laboratory materials as needed through the Pan American Health Organization pooled purchasing fund.
In addition, the IDB will explore the use of cellular technologies to support more timely communication between authorities and health providers, and between providers and patients.
Eye on Ads: Promoting Handwashing
By Keith R | April 30, 2009 @ 4:12 pm |
Topics: Eye on Ads, Health Issues, Sanitation | No Comments »
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It’s a relatively simple thing that it’s too often overlooked by local sanitary authorities and technical assistance programs, but soooooo important in improving public health and hygiene: getting everyone in the habit of regularly (and properly) washing their hands with soap.
Below are two public service ads (PSAs) sponsored by Colombia’s Environment Ministry (MAVDT), originally released last October on the first Global Handwashing Day. They’re pretty good. I’d like to see similar PSAs in every nation of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
BNDES Increases Support to Waste Picker Co-ops in 2009
By Keith R | April 28, 2009 @ 7:41 pm |
Topics: Waste & Recycling | No Comments »
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From the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES):
BNDES lends R$ 7.4 million to 11 waste-picker recycling cooperatives in 2009
- Entities will contribute to raise the population’s awareness and improve separate garbage collection services
This year, the BNDES boosted its support to waste-picker recycling cooperatives and approved R$ 7.4 million for 11 institutions. The non-reimbursable funds derive from the Social Fund and will be used not only to enable the social inclusion of recycling workers in Brazil, but also to increase the production capacity in this sector.
The program “Support for Waste Pickers of Recyclable Material” started in October 2007 and was implemented in two cycles. In the first cycle, which started in 2007 and ended in 2008, support projects for 32 cooperatives were approved, totaling R$ 21.6 million. Over 2008, in the second cycle of support for workers, 23 new projects were qualified, totaling R$ 16.9 million. Out of these, 11 have already been approved. The projects of both cycles are spread over 47 cities in eight Brazilian states.
With this initiative, the BNDES expects to encourage the development, dissemination and multiplication of social technologies, helping to improve public policies. From an environmental viewpoint, the cooperatives will contribute to raising the population’s awareness and improving separate collection of garbage. The cooperatives supported by the Bank are in tune with these principles.
The cooperatives supported are: Cooperalto – Material Recycling Cooperative of Alto Tietê (R$ 791,000); Cooperative for the Production, Collection, Screening, Processing and Sale of Recyclable Material of Capela do Socorro – Coopercaps (R$ 427,000); Cooperative of Recycling Workers of Mauá – Cooperma; (R$ 269,700); Cooperative of Recyclable Material Pickers and Separators of Apucarana – Cocap (R$ 882,700); Cooperative for the Production, Collection, Screening and Processing of Recyclable Material of Jaçanã – Cooperativa sem Fronteiras (R$ 464,200); Cooperative of Recycling Workers of São Paulo (R$ 614,500); Regional Cooperative of Separate Collection and Recycling of the West Region – Cooperação (R$ 606,200); Cooperative of Waste Pickers of Recyclable Material of Vila Esperança – Avemare (R$ 713,700); Raw Material Recycling Cooperative of Embu – Coopermape (R$ 609,800); Cooperative of Waste Pickers of Recycling Material – Cocamare (R$ 933,300); Cooperative of Recycling Workers of Canabrava – Coperbrava (R$ 1.1 million).
COOPERALTO - The funds will be used to invest in construction works, purchasing new vehicles, machinery and equipment for physical infrastructure, furniture, computer goods and equipment, as well as personnel training. This project will allow Cooperalto to increase its production capacity and operational management, physical infrastructure, and marketing.
As a result, it is expected that service sales increase, the workers’ standards of living improve, and personnel training efforts will be enhanced.
Cooperalto operates in the city of Biritiba Mirim, in greater São Paulo. When the project is effectively implemented, 34 jobs will be created. An 80% increase in the monthly income of cooperative members is expected.
COOPERCAPS - The R$ 427,000 is intended to purchase vehicles, machinery and equipment. Coopercaps is comprised of 85 waste pickers and operates in Capela do Socorro, to the south of São Paulo.
With the BNDES’ support, Coopercaps’ production capacity is expected to increase by 100%, the gross income of workers by 50%, and 85 new jobs will be created.
COPERBRAVA - The cooperative expects to have a greater production capacity, by means of construction works, purchasing vehicles, machinery and equipment for physical infrastructure, furniture and goods, administrative modernization and personnel training.
This production structure will allow the cooperative to significantly increase the amount of processed material.
COCAMARE - It expects to increase its production capacity, its potential to sell value-added material, increase the monthly gross income of workers and create 40 new jobs in 24 months. The funds will be used to reform the warehouse where the material is stored and shipped, build a new warehouse, besides buying furniture and goods, as well as a proper truck to transport the material.
COOPERMAPE - The cooperative expects to buy vehicles, machinery and equipment, promote personnel training, and buy containers. Also on the list are the purchase of office furniture and supplies, personal protective equipment for the cooperative members and personnel training.
AVEMARE - The support aims at increasing production capacity by purchasing vehicles, machinery and equipment for physical infrastructure, furniture and goods, computer equipment and personnel training.
COOPERAÇÃO - The purpose is to increase the production capacity by creating jobs and increasing workers’ incomes, by purchasing vehicles, machinery and equipment for physical infrastructure, furniture and goods, computer equipment and personnel training. It expects to create thirty-nine jobs.
COOPER VIVABEM - Increase of production capacity, with the purchase of new vehicles, machinery and equipment; furniture and goods, administrative modernization and personnel training. It is expected that the collection of recyclable material increase by 86% and the production capacity grow by 65% in 24 months. Fifty-four jobs are to be created, and the monthly income of workers is expected to grow by 50%.
COOPSEMFRO - The cooperative expects to increase its production capacity by 200% and the monthly gross income of workers by 40%. It expects to create 58 new jobs in this period and buy new equipment.
COCAP - In 24 months, 39 new jobs are expected to be created to increase production and sales. The cooperative intends to save money to cover depreciation and replacement of equipment, in order to reach long-term sustainability, which will reduce the cooperative’s dependence on financial support.
COOPERMA - The existing space will be adjusted, and the production structure will be upgraded to improve the work processes and enhance safety at work during reception, screening, packaging and sales.
IFC Supports PET Recycling in Mexico / IFC respalda el reciclaje de PET en México
By Keith R | April 22, 2009 @ 8:11 pm |
Topics: Packaging, Waste & Recycling | No Comments »
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From the International Finance Corporation (IFC):
IFC Supports PetStar’s Launch of Recycling Facility to Reduce Waste in Mexico
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, supported the launch of operations for Petstar SA de CV’s bottle–to-bottle recycling facility, which is expected to significantly reduce the volume of non-biodegradable waste and contribute to greater longevity of landfills in Mexico.
Petstar’s state-of-the-art facility, which was launched today at a ceremony in Toluca Mexico, will convert used plastic bottles into food-grade resin, which will be resold to Mexico’s soft-drink bottling industry for production of new bottles. The plant was set up with IFC financing and can recycle over 30,000 tons of plastic bottles annually—or nearly 1 billion bottles whose total volume would equal that of a football stadium. In addition to the recycling facility, Petstar is also running an innovative social-responsibility program, which will help improve the welfare of informal laborers and reduce the incidence of child labor in the waste sector.
IFC provided a $24.5 million loan to the project—$13 million for its own account and an additional $11.5 million in a syndicated loan from Cordiant Capital. IFC also provided financial and advisory support to develop the social responsibility program, which will improve access to education for waste collectors and their children. The program will also test new models for formalizing waste separation and engage public and private stakeholders to influence long-term change in Mexico’s waste management sector.
Jaime Camara, Director General of Petstar said: “We are glad to start operations on this new facility, which will have a significant environmental and social impact in Mexico. We want to thank IFC and Cordiant for their commitment to Petstar, a unique project in Latin America.”
Gabriel Goldschmidt, IFC’s Manager for Infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean, said: “We are pleased to support this state-of-the-art recycling facility, which will use old drink bottles to manufacture new ones. IFC is also proud to support the associated social program which significantly improves working conditions for some of Mexico’s most marginalized people, the waste pickers.”
IFC’s strategy for Mexico focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, deepening the financial sector by introducing specialized products and markets, supporting infrastructure development and investments in areas newly opened to private-sector participation, and promoting sustainable environmental and social development and good corporate governance. Since Mexico became a member of IFC in 1956, the Corporation has provided over $6 billion to the country’s private sector.
Culmina armonización andina de requisitos para productos de higiene doméstica y absorbentes de higiene personal
By Keith R | April 20, 2009 @ 7:20 pm |
Topics: Cleaning Products, Cosmetics/Personal Care Products, Health Issues, Pharmaceutical Issues | No Comments »
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Synopsis in English: The Andean Community (CAN) is putting the finishing touches on the new Community norm to harmonize member states’ (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) sanitary control regimes regarding household and personal hygiene products, such as soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, surface cleansers, stain removers, bleaches, air fresheners, sanitary towels, disposable diapers, tampons, towelettes, etc.
To refresh memories, the mandatory Decision will contain (1) provisions for control and health monitoring of such products; (2) safety measures to prevent harm to human health; (3) penalties if such provisions are violated; (4) a simplified procedure for obtaining marketing authorization for hygiene and cleaning products, the Obligatory Sanitary Notification (Notificación Sanitaria Obligatoria - NSO), which allows a product that gains marketing authorization in one member state to be authorized for marketing in the others as well (CAN has a similar system already in place for cosmetics).
At a recent meeting with representatives of the private sector, sanitary authorities from the CAN member states charged the CAN Secretariat with coordinating with national authorities their required notification of technical measures that may affect trade to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which once made, will allow the CAN’s top decision-making body, the Commission, to finalize the Decision. They also (1) agreed with a Colombian proposal to enable the use of digital signatures in issuing the NSOs; (2) agreed on a common coding system for NSOs, which will later enable the establishment of an Andean NSO Registry System; (3) agreed on a common format for NSO requests for comestic products.
The CAN sanitary authorities also agreed that they need to address at the CAN level the issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and they established a working group on the subject.