RESUMO
Brazilian needs for petroleum as a primary energy source grew from 13.2% in 1940 to 41.7% in 1977. This resulted in a much greater dependence on foreign sources and prompted the Government to initiate a detailed study of alternatives. The National Alcohol Program established in 1975 is just one of the options being examined. The National Energy Balance forecast shows that annual anhydrous alcohol consumption for automotive purposes should increase from 1.74 × 106 m3 to 4.7 × 106 m3 in the period from 1978 to 1987. This paper presents the main objectives of the National Alcohol Program in the context of the overall Energy Program, points out the problems connected with alcohol production and utilization, and reviews the serious problems related to its distribution to the consuming centers. Finally, the indirect benefits resulting from the implementation of the National Alcohol Program are shown, underlining the saving of foreign currency, the substantial increase in employment opportunities, the reduction in regional and individual income discrepancies, and the expansion of capital goods production, together with the improvement of national technology in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
