Guyana Electrical Consultants & Associates

Petroleum consumption has increased by 160% since 1965. Specialists are saying that the end is approaching because the world’s resources of the black gold are running out.    

The demand for energy around the world is going to increase by 60% from now to 2030, the major reason being the economic growth of China, India and Brazil. For 15 years, China has been responsible by itself for 30% of the increase of the petroleum world demand (industry development). The principal market actor, OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) cannot manage the market any more.

Currently, the transportation sector is absorbing 58% of world consumption (42% in 1970s).

So it is topical to develop alternatives urgently and multiply the economy of energies.

There are various efforts to substitute the black gold. The hydraulic, wind, solar energy, bio carburant, biomass…etc, could be used in different sectors like electricity, heating and transportation.    

Some countries have started to work on innovative projects. For example Germany, which has the biggest centre for solar energy in the world (area of 30 soccer fields), was created in 2004. Australia plans to build a tower for solar energy 1.000 metres high supplying the same quantity of energy as a small nuclear reactor. Sweden is one of the industrialized countries which will consume more renewable energies than petroleum soon.

For 30 years Brazil has been exploiting its farm resources to produce ethanol from sugar estates. The Ethyl-alcohol is produced from cultures of cereals/sugars with a high concentration of Amidon. Ethanol is the result of sugar fermentation. Thus, ethanol cars are less pollutant as UNICA says (Brazilian sugar syndicate); Ethanol is representing 40% of the carburant of the country which is distilling more than 4 milliards gallons a year being able to increase the production. Brazil is the leader in this market

These efforts to develop renewable energy must continue

throughout the world to face the inevitable end of petroleum world resources, but also to fight against dependence on oil, oil price and pollution (global warming).

In Guyana sugar has a future; the price cut applied by the European Union is not a fatality. As an enterprise which is managing its diversification strategy, the sugar industry must reflect about new market opportunities.

Yours faithfully

Jonathan Fredericks

French Student