BIOFUELS IN CHILE. II. ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF BIOFUELS ELABORATION

In order to determine whether the production of biofuels in Chile is economically feasible, an evaluation at farmer and plant production level was carried out, considering five species grown in different productive systems. Analysis of results showed that agricultural profitability ranged between -43.2 % and 30.4 %, that is, some options would be unsustainable. In plant, the ethanol and biodiesel production was profitable by using corn (Zea mays L.) and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) as an input. However, only the domestic production of rapeseed-based biodiesel could provide a 2 % substitution of fossil fuels by biofuels. Finally, by June 2008, WTI oil prices required to justify the production of ethanol and biodiesel would be US$144.6 barrel(-1) and US$184.6 barrel(-1).