Maple Energy plc reports the start of development by its Peruvian subsidiary, Maple Etanol S.R.L., of its first seed cane plot near La Huaca in the Chira Valley of the Piura Region of Peru. The plot will provide seed sugar cane for Maple’s sugar cane estate which in turn will provide feedstock for Maple’s planned ethanol plant.

The La Huaca plot will be developed with drip irrigation systems which are highly efficient and conserve water. Third party contractors are now preparing the land for the installation of the systems. The development of the seed cane plot is being done under the supervision of Booker Tate Limited, an internationally renowned operator of sugar cane estates, and Maple personnel.

In October 2007, Maple leased 58 hectares of land near the village of La Huaca, close to the Chira River and nearby Maple’s 10,676 hectare estate. Approximately 47 hectares of this leased land will be planted with sugar cane in order to produce seed cane for the development of Maple’s commercial operation on its main estate. Eight to ten months after planting, each hectare of seed cane will provide enough material to plant approximately ten to twelve hectares of commercial cane land.

The seed cane program on the leased La Huaca plot will be expanded between now and the later part of 2008 to about 320 hectares. This area will produce the seed cane required for the initial commercial sugar cane planting on the main estate owned by Maple. The total of approximately 8,000 hectares of Maple’s estate which will be planted with cane will be completed with seed cane from additional nurseries developed within Maple’s land.

Jack W. Hanks, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Maple, commented, “The La Huaca seed cane farm represents a significant milestone in Maple’s planned 30 million gallon per year ethanol project in the Piura region. It allows for the large-scale start-up of Maple’s cane planting program and also allows Maple to build strong links with the surrounding local communities of farmers and land owners. Maple’s owned land estate will provide most of the sugar cane feedstock required for the planned ethanol plant.”

Tags: Maple Energy plc