4 minutes with… Valentin Perez, Project Manager, SINMT

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

My company is building the first bioethanol plant using sugarcane in Mexico. We will sell ethanol to Pemex and other companies. The scope of the project is not only the plant, but also the support to the sugarcane farmers and the community that sorrounds the plant. We will have 300 direct jobs and nearly 10K indirect jobs.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

I play the role of project manager for the entire project, not only the plant but also all the different things that involves the project, e.g. the land, the train railroad, the sugarcane demo varities we will have and also the liasson with vendors and suppliers. The next 12 months we will wrap up the detail engineering and start the actual construction.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?  

Since Mexico is brand new into the Ethanol era, first we will need to educate costumers about the benefits of ethanol and help them embrace the change.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

The lenghty process for obtaining a EPA certification for providing sugarcane ethanol to US

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?  

The environment and the community. Our project is one of a kind in my country and we strongly believe we will make a difference which will open the door to investors, jobs, quality of life.

Where are you from? 

I am from Veracruz, Mexico. I was born here.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

My career is in Information Technology but I decided to take a different path and join the biofuels industry

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?

My director (Carlos Torres) for his vision about this project. De Smet people for the support they are giving us and because they believe in us.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?  

To be patient, sometimes slow is better than fast. The is always calm and the end of the storm.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?

Running. Strong passion for running and videogames 🙂

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island

Who moved my cheese?

Richest man in babylon

48 rules of power

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?  

Game of Thrones, I guess it is the current trend! 🙂

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

Barcelona, Spain