Biosev invest R$378 mi; 73 sugar cane harvesters and purchase extends grinding

SAO PAULO (Reuters)-the Biosev, one of the largest sugar and ethanol sector in Brazil, controlled by Louis Dreyfus, announced on Thursday investment of about 378 million reais in run-up to the start of the crop 2019/2020. Investments in improvements for agricultural and industrial operations in all the company's plants, including the purchase of 73 new harvesters and 33 trucks, in addition to the expansion of milling and production of ethanol, according to note released by the company. " We're getting ready so we can achieve the best results during the next harvest, gaining operational efficiencies to improve cash generation, "said the Chief Executive, Juan José Blanchard. 2019/20 crop of South Central starts officially in April. The investments are part of the company's planning for the off season and are aligned with the strategy of making the operation more productive and profitable agribusiness, highlighted the Biosev. In industry, investments totaled more than 270 million dollars distributed in eight industrial plants. The two units in the municipality of Bright River (MS), for example, the milling capacity plus was extended in 3,000 tonnes/day. In addition, in South mato Grosso unit was installed a distillation apparatus which will allow an additional production of 250 cubic meters/day of ethanol. Another win in the Mato Grosso do Sul was the increase in capacity of molasses, stock that can be converted to ethanol in opportune moments, "loosening the mix of production as the company's strategy". In Vale do Rosario unit (in Morro Agudo, SP), the company said, "the improvement ensured increased milling capacity in 1,000 tonnes/day. In the same unit, the installation of a column at the distillery, which raised the capacity to produce anhydrous ethanol in 240 cubic meters/day. The Santa Elisa unit (Sertãozinho, SP.) also received a new handset at your Distillery, with capacity to produce 600 cubic meters/day of ethanol. In Lagoa da Prata unit (MG) were installed and stock regeneration systems vinasse, which perform heat exchange in the process, using less steam--this way you can reduce the use of boiler steam and save the pulp, which can be directed for increased power generation. The Biosev has a production capacity of 2.5 million tons of sugar and 1.6 million cubic meters of ethanol, as well as cogeneration capacity for 1,346 for sale of electric energy from the Gwh biomass. The investment was announced after the Biosev have reported last week a quarterly loss related mainly to the devaluation of the brazilian currency. (By Roberto Samora)