VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #2367 2951849
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221849Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1544
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MANAGUA 002367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC-FCORNEILLE, AND 
EEB/IEC-BHAENDLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EAGR EINV ECON NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: BIOFUELS PANEL AT CCAA CONFERENCE 
 
REF: SECSTATE 144963 
 
¶1. (U) Nicaragua joined the ethanol market in 2007, when 
Nicaraguan Sugar Estates (NSE) started sending shipments of 
sugar cane ethanol to Europe.  NSE hopes to double that 
volume in 2008 when expanded facilities come on line.  Other 
sugar producers have moved to take advantage of world demand 
for ethanol.  Honduran-owned Monte Rosa Sugar, Nicaragua's 
second largest sugar producer, is building an ethanol plant 
and which it hopes to bring it on line this fall. 
Nicaragua's other two sugar producers are contemplating 
whether to join this growing market.  Given the lack of 
infrastructure in Nicaragua to support ethanol use in 
vehicles or industry, all ethanol currently produced is sold 
abroad. 
 
¶2. (U) Despite President Ortega's negative rhetoric regarding 
corn-based ethanol, the GON has no specific policies that 
block ethanol or biofuels production.  Given the sky 
rocketing price of oil, there is strong interest among GON 
officials to explore biofuels, particularly the production of 
diesel from African Palm.  This has encouraged the 
Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation (IICA) 
to explore the use of African Palm as an alternative fuel 
source for Nicaragua's Atlantic coast. 
 
¶3. (U) Nominees listed below could benefit from participation 
in the proposed CCAA biofuels event. 
 
Government Nominees (they may send delegates): 
 
Name: Orlando SOLORZANO Delgadillo 
Title: Minister of Trade, Industry and Development 
E-mail: osolorzano@mific.gob.ni 
 
Name: Emilio B. RAPPACCIOLI 
Title: Minister of Energy 
E-mail:erb@mem.gob.ni 
 
 
Private Sector Nominees: 
 
Name: Xavier ARGUELLO Barillas 
Title: Executive Director, Nicaragua Sugar Estates 
E-mail: xarguello@nicaraguasugar.com.ni 
 
Name: Francisco BALTODANO 
Title: General Manager, Monte Rosa Sugar 
E-mail: fbaltodano@pantaleon.com 
 
Name: Mario AMADOR 
Title: General Manager, Nicaraguan National Committee of 
Sugar Producers 
E-mail: marioamador@cablenet.com.ni 
TRIVELLI