Fiji's biofuel potential is 'enormous'

Around 1.5 million litres of biofuel is produced in Fiji each year, but this must increase if the nation is to make an impact on the 300 million litres a year of fuel currently consumed in the transport sector.

The Fijian government is now said to be encouraging investors to capitalise on this market, highlighting the enormity of the industry's potential.

While a mandatory biofuel blending requirement is yet to be signed into law, Fiji's Department of Energy is currently working to implement E10 and B5 mandates.

Fiji's local biofuel feedstocks include agricultural and forestry waste, in addition to by-products and other residues. The nation is also making use of the large quantities of coconut oil to produce 'coco-diesel'.

In addition to producing transportation fuel, there is also a strong market for electricity generated from biofuel.