The peats of Costa Rica (in English; Spanish)
Peat has been identified in Cost Rica, and an economic analysis of energy applications for peat has been done. About 1000 km{sup 2} of Cost Rica has the potential of being covered by peat. The Talamanca Mountains and the northeastern plains contain most of the Costa Rican peat. Specific bogs have been identified by the Medio Queso River in north-central Costa Rica and near El Cairo, Moin, and the Limon airport in northeastern Costa Rica. The Medio Queso bog, which is supplying peat for use as a carrier for nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the El Cairo bog, which has been identified as a source of horticultural peat for nearby ornamental plant farms, are of special interest. The economics of three energy applications of peat were examined -- as a fuel in large boilers, as a fuel in small boilers, and as an oil substitute in a cement plant. A facility using coal would have the same total costs as one using peat if coal prices were $45 and $30 per metric ton (used for large boilers and a cement plant, respectively). A facility using Bunker C or diesel would have the same total cost as one using peat if oil prices were $0.11, $0.08, and $0.06 per liter (used for large boilers, small boilers, and a cement plant, respectively). In all three cases, the costs for peat were comparable or less than the costs for coal and oil at 1987 prices. 6 refs., 8 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USAID
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6348867
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11889-MS-Vol.1; ON: DE91006048
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English; Spanish
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The peats of Costa Rica
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Related Subjects
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Fossil Fuels
AERIAL SURVEYING
AGRICULTURE
BOILER FUELS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENTRAL AMERICA
COAL
COSTA RICA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HORTICULTURE
INDUSTRY
LATIN AMERICA
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
MATERIALS
ORGANIC MATTER
PEAT
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT