Lula defends ethanol " revolution " at economic forum in Denmark

EFE News Services - Thursday, September 13, 2007
Copenhagen, Sep 13 (EFE).- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said here Thursday during the inauguration of an economic forum in Denmark that his country is committed to becoming an economic powerhouse by leading an ethanol " revolution ."

Lula stressed that Brazil has the technology and the raw materials to produce the clean-burning fuel efficiently and cheaply and that state oil giant Petrobras is playing an "extraordinarily important" role in consolidating biofuels in his country and throughout the world.

The Brazilian leader said that ethanol is at the forefront of an energy and environmental " revolution " and that it is possible to reconcile the production of biofuels with the goal of food security and protection of the natural world, including the Amazon rainforest.

He also defended eliminating "prohibitive" tariffs that the European Union and other countries have imposed on ethanol imports.

Lula said in his speech that the Brazilian economy has "immense potential" thanks to its success in achieving monetary stabilization, but said tax and political reforms must be carried out and the problem of social inequality addressed.

The Brazilian will meet later Thursday with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to sign a memorandum of understanding on sustainable energy aimed at promoting biofuels production and markets.

Lula had already visited Finland and Sweden as part of his four-country Nordic tour to promote Brazil's biofuel program and will later travel to Norway. The president, who was accompanied by members of his Cabinet and some 50 business leaders, will also stop in Spain before returning to Brazil.

Brazil, the world's leading produce of ethanol, says its sugarcane-based fuel is an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline. EFE

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