Sugarcane

Growth in sugar production in Cambodia has created significant potential for sugarcane-based biofuel production. That potential has not yet been realized, though recent foreign investment may give rise to change. There are several types of sugar crop: sugarcane, sugar palm trees and sugar beets. Sugarcane and palm sugar are the main type of sugar grown in Cambodia.1

Sugarcane Red Outwire. Photo by Matt Jacoby, taken on 26 August 2006. Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Sugarcane cultivation

Sugarcane normally requires irrigation, so the growing area is limited to areas where irrigation systems are available or can be developed.2 Sugarcane is mostly grown in Kampong Speu, Koh Kong,3 Oddar Meanchey,4 and Preah Vihear provinces.5 Sugarcane cultivation has increased from 13,297 ha in 2008 to 29,703 ha in 2019.6 The sugarcane yield was 28,972 kg/ha in 2008, but fell to 22,251 kg/ha in 2019.7 The total production quantity of sugarcane has however gradually increased, from 385,238 tonnes in 2008 to 660,919 tonnes in 2019.8

Sugarcane products

Sugarcane can be used to create bioethanol.9 This is a form of liquid biofuel usually mixed with gasoline.10 The use of sugarcane to produce bioethanol is considered to be the first generation of ethanol production.11

Bagasse can be used to produce second-generation ethanol. Second-generation biofuels are made from non-food materials and waste materials to reduce threats to food security caused by the use of food crops to make first-generation biofuels.

Presently, on a general and global scale, sugarcane is burned in boilers to supply energy to industrial plants. Neither form of bioethanol production is prevalent in Cambodia currently.12

In 2013, large-scale sugar production in Cambodia resulted in the potential for bioethanol production as well as increased foreign investment in bioethanol plants.13 Kamadhenu Ventures (Cambodia) Ltd invested as part of a joint venture in a sugar project involving a sugarcane factory and ethanol and thermal power plants in 2013. The sugarcane factory was designed to produce 3,500 tons of sugar per day, while the power plants were expected to produce 30,000 liters of ethanol and 20 MW per day.14 According to the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, approximately 100,000 ha of sugarcane plantations with a planned capacity of 1.8 million tonnes of refined sugar have been remarked in 2017. This part of land is currently under cultivation by five producers, including Kamadhenu Ventures (Cambodia) Ltd, Rui Feng, and Phnom Penh Sugar Industry Co Ltd.15

A Chinese-owned sugar company invested US$360 million in Preah Vihear province. The company can produce 20,000 tonnes of sugarcane and 2,000 tonnes of refined sugar a day and can produce 360,000 tonnes of sugar, 50,000 liters of ethanol, and 9 megawatts of surplus electricity annually.16 The firm stopped production in early 2020.17

A joint sugarcane factory venture between Mong Reththy Group and Charoen Sirivadhakdi, a Thai billionaire, was announced in 2006, using 5,000 ha of land. The factory planned to produce 60,000 tonnes of white sugar, 24,000 tonnes of molasses, and 6 million liters of alcohol each year. The project was reportedly abandoned after problems with flooding.18

The largest sugar factory located in Kampong Speu Province was opened in December 2012, with a US$150 million investment from Ly Yong Phat Co., Ltd, a local company.19 The company has a concession for 9,300 ha of land.20 The final products of the company are refined sugar, white sugar, and raw sugar.21 In 2020 the company (the Phnom Penh Sugar Company) reported that it was producing up to 102,000 tonnes of white sugar annually from plantations in Kampong Speu and Koh Kong Provinces.22

Related to Sugarcane

References

  1. 1. FAO, “Sugar crops and sweeteners and derived products,” accessed on 23 July 2021.
  2. 2. Ung, Luyna et al., “Cambodia: Status and potential for the development of biofuels and rural renewable energy,” Asian Development Bank, 2009, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  3. 3. Sar Socheath, “White sugar production hits 102,000 tonnes a year,” Khmer Times, 04 December 2020, accessed on 29 July 2021.
  4. 4. Inclusive Development International, “Cambodia: Challenging Mitr Phol land grab and Bonsucro greenwashing,” accessed on 19 July 2021
  5. 5. Joshua Lipes, “Sugarcane in Preah Vihear,” Radio Free Asia, accessed on 29 July 2021.
  6. 6. KNOEMA, “Cambodia – Sugar cane area harvested,” accessed on 23 July 2021.
  7. 7. KNOEMA, “Cambodia – Sugar cane yield,” accessed on 23 July 2021.
  8. 8. KNOEMA, “Cambodia – Sugar cane production quantity,” accessed on 23 July 2021.
  9. 9. Paturau, J.M. “Alternative uses of sugarcane and its byproducts in agroindustries.” FAO, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  10. 10. Williamson, Andrew, “Biofuel: A sustainable solution in Cambodia?” Cambodian Research Center for Development.
  11. 11. Furlan, Felipe F. et al., “Bioelectricity versus bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse: is it worth being flexible?” Biotechnology for Biofuels 6, n: 142, (2013).
  12. 12. Ibid.
  13. 13. Ellis, Karen et al., “Summary policy brief on low carbon competitiveness in Cambodia,” ODI, 2013, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  14. 14. Staff writer, “Vietnam invests in largest sugar project in Cambodia,” VOV News, 27 May 2013, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  15. 15. Post Staff, “Sugar slowly moves to market,” Phnom Penh Post, 16 March 2017, accessed on 09 August 2021.
  16. 16. Sor Chandara, “Massive sugar mill poised to expand,” The Phnom Penh Post, 20 April 2016, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  17. 17. Sun Narin, “Massive Chinese sugarcane firm disappear from Preah Vihear,” VOA Khmer, 04 February 2020, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  18. 18. Chun Sophal, “Koh Kong cane plant packs it in,” The Phnom Penh Post, 12 September 2008, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  19. 19. The Southeast Asia Weekly, “Cambodia opens first largest sugar cane factory with $150 million investment from local company,” 27 December 2012, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  20. 20. Sok Chan, “China asked to buy more sugarcane from Cambodia,” Khmer Times, 12 January 2018, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  21. 21. “Introducing LYP group,” Phnom Penh Sugar Co., Ltd, accessed on 23 July 2021.
  22. 22. Sar Socheath, “White sugar production hits 102,000 tonnes a year,” Khmer Times, 04 December 2020, accessed on 23 July 2021.
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