Resumen en español

This study shows technical, economical, and environmental aspects which have to be handled in the design of the new plants to be built in Colombia in order to produce the alcohol required to fit the new rules established by the national government. It is seen that in the next few years, the safer way of obtaining it is from sugar cane, but on the other hand, we can see the uprising of new alternatives which could compete with it latter. Up to now, the cost of producing dry ethanol is higher than obtaining gasoline. Finally, environmental problems which have to be handled in ethanol production plants are described.