Bright future for ethanol

The finishing touches must still be done, but, as sources with the national planning authority say, all that is left is the math - the easiest part.

The outline of a sophisticated, in theory at least, blueprint is clear enough on the drawing board - to subsidize the production of non-grain-based fuel ethanol and make it as profitable as traditional fuels.

The plan could be the best possible way to cope with the dilemma we are facing. On the one hand, there is the pressing need to find alternative sources of energy to ease the pressure our economic growth is putting on domestic and overseas supplies; on the other, there are practical concerns about grain security.