MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Hiking Biodiesel Blend Benefits Oil Palm Secto
Hiking Biodiesel Blend Benefits Oil Palm Secto
30/09/2015 (Sun.Star) - The Philippine Palm-Oil Development Council Inc. (PPDCI) lauded the Department of Energy’s (DOEs) plan to increase the biodiesel blend to 5 percent, which may be implemented next year.
Peter T. Lavina, member of the PPDCI technical working group said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao that once implemented, it will pave the way for development for the oil palm industry in the country.
“This is a welcome development for the local oil palm industry. Increasing the blend to 5 percent would boost demand for oil palm, which is much better as feedstock for biodiesel,” he said adding that oil palm is way better than the more expensive coco methyl ester and sugar ethanol.
The proposed increase is more than double from the current 2.0-percent blend of biofuels to diesel products.
The percent in biofuels blend to diesel products is mandated under the Biofuels Law.
“The government should push for it both to promote clean renewable biodiesel but also support the production of more biodiesel feedstock from palm oil. We should refrain from using coco or sugar since those are more expensive and besides it can serve other prime uses,” Lavina said.
With the propose increase, biodiesel makers are expected to buy more crude palm oil which will spur more growers to plant oil palm trees. In a report, the energy department is still up for the results of a sanctioned study and the final recommendation of the National Biofuels Board (NBB) before deciding to go for B5 or increasing it to 5.0-percent. DOE is expecting the result and decision within the year.
As part of the compliance, the energy department re-calibrated the standards and test protocols on the chemical contents of biodiesel products. However, there have been complaints regarding to the technical impact of a higher biodiesel blend on vehicles.
But, the DOE assured that the technical working group of its technical committee on petroleum products and additives had “reviewed and revised the standard test method as to the determination of ester and lauric acid content in fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) by gas chromatography.”
Peter T. Lavina, member of the PPDCI technical working group said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao that once implemented, it will pave the way for development for the oil palm industry in the country.
“This is a welcome development for the local oil palm industry. Increasing the blend to 5 percent would boost demand for oil palm, which is much better as feedstock for biodiesel,” he said adding that oil palm is way better than the more expensive coco methyl ester and sugar ethanol.
The proposed increase is more than double from the current 2.0-percent blend of biofuels to diesel products.
The percent in biofuels blend to diesel products is mandated under the Biofuels Law.
“The government should push for it both to promote clean renewable biodiesel but also support the production of more biodiesel feedstock from palm oil. We should refrain from using coco or sugar since those are more expensive and besides it can serve other prime uses,” Lavina said.
With the propose increase, biodiesel makers are expected to buy more crude palm oil which will spur more growers to plant oil palm trees. In a report, the energy department is still up for the results of a sanctioned study and the final recommendation of the National Biofuels Board (NBB) before deciding to go for B5 or increasing it to 5.0-percent. DOE is expecting the result and decision within the year.
As part of the compliance, the energy department re-calibrated the standards and test protocols on the chemical contents of biodiesel products. However, there have been complaints regarding to the technical impact of a higher biodiesel blend on vehicles.
But, the DOE assured that the technical working group of its technical committee on petroleum products and additives had “reviewed and revised the standard test method as to the determination of ester and lauric acid content in fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) by gas chromatography.”