News

Is Rum Barbados’ Newest Green Energy?

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - November 28, 2011 - 6:50 pm

Above: the Mount Gay Distillery in Barbados

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Like most industries, Barbados’ rum sector is facing rising energy costs — but one Barbadian minister has a solution.

By using vinasse, which is the material output from the manufacture of rum and ethanol, the country could produce biogas — something which could be used for everything from generating heat and electricity for the manufacturing process to creating bio fertiliser to improve crop yields.

That’s the proposal from Dr David Eastwick, Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management.

“The production of biogas from vinasse and the use of biogas to generate heat and electricity for [the rum] manufacturing process should be examined,” said Eastwick, who was speaking to a recent Rum Expansion Programme produced by the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation.

Another benefit of using vinasse to produce energy and fertiliser would be the reduction of the typical negative impact the current method of vinasse disposal has on the environment, he said.

The Minister also called on rum manufacturers to explore the possibility of producing ethanol for fuel use. The ethanol could replace the Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether which is currently used in gasoline as an oxygenate additive.

“The production of local ethanol for use in a 10 percent gasoline fuel blend would eliminate the potential negative impact of MTBE while saving foreign exchange for the country and diversifying the revenue stream of the rum industry, utilising skill sets and resources already present in the rum industry, he said.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts barbados fort

Barbados Is Projecting a Big Cruise Season

Barbados is projecting a big cruise season ahead, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The island’s tourism officials are anticipating a 22 percent jump in cruise arrivals for the 2025-2026 season, according to a press briefing at the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace […]


The 18 Best Hotels in Barbados, From Luxury Resorts to All-Inclusive Escapes

best hotels in barbados sand with water

The rum. The rhythm. The beach. The shopping. Barbados is more than just an island; it’s a a mood, a vibe, a lifestyle. From the sun-soaked shores of the Platinum Coast to the vibrant energy of the South Coast (a […]


Barbados Is Getting an Extra Copa Airlines Flight

Barbados beach with trees overhead

It’s no secret that South and Central America are playing an increasingly important role in Caribbean tourism.  While much of that growth has come in the Dominican Republic and in southern Caribbean destinations like Aruba and Curacao, other islands are […]