Saturday, May 26, 2012


Rey Anthony Chiu 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 25, 2012 (PIA) –Attaining 20% biofuel mix for the country’s diesel fuel by 2030 is possible, members of the National Biofuel Board (NBB) agree, during their recent planning workshop at the Bohol Tropics Resort May 21-25, 2012. 

This can be had when the NBB member agencies and institutions stick to their commitments and aggressively pursue the plans and programs which the board adopted during the entire duration of the five day workshop, add representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA). 

Both the PCA, DA and the SRA have been into expanding the country’s plantations to support the biofuel industry needs. 

Coconut is a main source of coco-methyl ester (CME) a component for biodiesel and sugarcane bagasse is a major source of biomass, upon where biofuel is extracted. 

To date, the country’s liquid fuel contains 2% biofuel for diesel and 10% bio-ethanol, as mandated by law, the National Biofuel Board (NBB) said the over-all plan is increasing it to 20% by 2030. 

Biofuel, as defined refers to bioethanol and biodiesel, or other fuels made from biomass and primarily used for motive, thermal and power generation, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS). 

Identified as a clean fuel source, biofuel, when developed and promoted is the country’s response to the clamor to wean from expensive imported fossil fuel by using indigenous, sustainably-sourced out indigenous and renewable energy. 

All to mitigate the toxic greenhouse gas emissions which accelerate the destruction of the environment, members of the National Biofuel Board, who held their planning workshop in Bohol recently said. 

“It must, however be a fuel that would have to go through rigid standards and the Department of Energy (DOE) certifies such after tests that the biofuel is indeed suitable for use in engines and in accordance with the PNS,” DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) director Mario Marasigan said. 

Since the Biofuel Act of 2006 took effect, all liquid fuels sold for motors and engines in the country have contained increasing amounts of locally sourced bio-fuel blends, he explains. 
At the recently concluded NBB workshop at the Bohol Tropics, Marasigan, said all liquid fuels in the country today have 1% to 2 % bio-fuel blend in biodiesel. 

At present also, there is already some 10% bioethanol blended in gasoline, and as planned, it would hit the 85% target by 2030, as to the National Renewable Energy Plan. 

But, beset with problems like less than projected production of bio-diesel and bio-ethanol additives, NBB members press for the revisit of the plan and update each other on the commitments and how far have they gone in support to the law, during the workshop (30).

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