Jamaica Broilers Group has now set its construction timetable on its ethanol plant for the first calendar quarter, saying yesterday it expects that approval from the environmental and planning agencies could come through as early as next week.

"The environmental approval has not been in writing yet but the indications are that it has been looked at favourably," Senior Vice-President of Poultry Operations, Christopher Levy, told the Financial Gleaner.

Broilers is investing $1.1 billion in the plant to convert wet ethanol to dry, for sale into the North American market.

Already, Broilers has sealed a deal with Bauche Energy's Brazilian subsidiary to supply the wet ethanol.

Levy said the decision from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) should be handed down a week or two after its board meeting.

"We are still shooting for a completion date for May 2007, Levy said, suggesting that construction could begin this month.

The plant will be constructed on the 20 acres of land purchased by Jamaica Broilers last year in Port Esquivel.

susan.gordon@gleanerjm.com

Taken from the Financial Gleaner, Friday January 19, 2007.