Oferta y demanda de biomasa forestal en el área de influencia de la empresa Biomass Costa Rica, Guanacaste.

Abstract

Forest biomass concept, are those materials that emerge from timber harvesting and are not extracted because they are not convertible into sub-products, but can be used as fuel (Velázquez, 2006). This raw material represents a high interest for industries to cheapen production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current situation of forest biomass usage in the area of influence of the company Biomass Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste. This study counted with a record of companies in Guanacaste employing boilers obtained from a database from another project. A 30% of all companies were sampled. Ten companies were sampled and a survey was applied. The potential demand for wooden chips was determined by the current consumption of the different fuels used; plus the actual cost of fuel was compared to the potential cost if this material is employed. The use of wooden chips is more profitable than using bunker, rice hulls, diesel and LPG. As for the cane bagasse, this is more profitable than chips. Forest biomass supply for Tectonagrandis (teak) was determined from the Payments for Environmental Services in Agroforestry (PSA SAF) recorded between the years 2009-2013 of the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO). The estimated volume of forest biomass for teak at 20 years is 6700.94 ton / year. This study results suggest that the use of wooden chips is a more profitable product than other fuels. Besides the supply available in the SAF is a source of constant supply of raw material demand.