17/4/06 (The Manila Times)  -  The newly constructed bio-diesel plant of the Filipino-owned Chemrez Inc. will start commercial operations on May 8 this year, the Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) and the Department of Energy confirmed.

Chemrez originally planned for a March inauguration of the new facility, which is the biggest biodiesel plant in Asia with a capacity of 60 million liters a year. With the new plant, the company will have a total production capacity of 75 million liters, which include the 15-million liter capacity of its existing plant.

Chemrez spent close to P600 million for the construction of the plant and another P350 million for the operations and acquisition of raw materials.

Earlier, Chemrez Operations Manager Dean Lao said the initial production of the plant will serve the German and Japan markets, as the domestic market still cannot support the plant.

The company is looking forward to the passage of the House bill proposing the use of 1- percent coco-biodiesel blend in the second half of the year so that it can take effect by the second quarter and give domestic a boost.

But although the bill is pending, Chemrez has tied up with Petron Corp., the country’s largest oil company, to market its bottled coco methyl ester in its 1,2000 stores nationwide.

Preblended coco-biodiesel is expected to be a sure hit among local vehicle users as it increases a vehicle’s mileage by at least 10 percent resulting in substantial savings for the motorists in the long run.