Other News

Scientists in Washington (US) have revealed that unfertile or contaminated lands now have a chance to reproduce plants and trees for producing biofuels. Poplar trees, in particular, are used for this research because of their ability to grow quickly, adapt in various climate but mostly because of their traits for biofuel production. The scientists found that adding the right kinds of bacteria…
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The implementation of a 10% ethanol blend in unleaded petrol in stations in France has hit delays. The higher blend, currently 5%, should be sold in 75% of the nation’s stations by the end of the year, Jean-Louis Schilansky, president of the oil trade group UFIP, says. Ethanol must be moved by truck rather than by pipeline; existing oil depots and service station tanks must be adapted to the…
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A recent survey conducted by the Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project shows that 67% of US respondents are interested in learning more about renewable biofuels. This public interest mainly came when oil prices started going up back in late 2007 and many as 66% people agreed that the use of biofuels will condense the US dependency on foreign oil. Another 53% believed biofuels will have a…
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Construction will start on a 100MW biomass facility in Sacul, Texas, in September. The biomass facility, to be operated by Nacogdoches Power, plans on using logging debris for much of the biomass supplies and will be situated on a 238-acre site. Approximately 70% of the biomass supply will be from logging debris, while the remaining 30% will come from residual chips and sawdust from existing…
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The Mozambican Government approved a National Biofuel Policy and Strategy on 24 March, with the aim of ramping-up production on a nationwide-scale. The strategy establishes a regulatory framework for production of biofuels by the public and private sectors, based on principles of transparency, social and environmental protection, Government spokesman, Luis Covane, comments. The Mozambican…
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Poland’s state-owned sugar maker Krajowa Spolka Cukrowa (KSC) is in talks with France-based producer Tereos to refine sugar from cane and to cooperate in biofuel production. KSC and Tereos are discussing joining forces to produce the sugar from Poland and fulfill EU production capacity quotas. The company has had to cut back production of beet sugar and has spare capacity under EU output…
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Petrotec looks to boost finances Biodiesel manufacturer Petrotec has reported sales are up 28%, but financial performance has suffered due to the current economic contraction. While its used cooking oil-based biodiesel has sold in higher quantities, interest and tax losses have increased due to depreciation of the euro. Petrotec reported sales in 2008 at €77.7 million, up from €60.8 million…
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Over 60 new biogas plants will be opened in Tanzania, in the Tanga region, by June this year. The plants are coming online with the help of the Tanzania Domestic Biogas Program in Kilindi, Handeni and Korogwe, as well as the districts of Pangani and Muheza. Tanga District Commissioner Ibrahim Msengi says five plants are already in use in the region. Biogas serves as a cheap raw material for…
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The international airline association IATA is aiming to approve biofuels for commercial flights by 2010 or 2011. Recent tests by Continental Airlines, Japan's JAL, Air New Zealand and Virgin had shown that next generation sustainable clean burning biofuels were successful, IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani says. Biofuels would still need to be produced in commercially viable…
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US-based Nova Biosource Fuels has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a need to restructure its biodiesel refining business. The company has up to $50 million (€37.8 million) of both liabilities and assets. Nova Biosource produces diesel from animal-derived fats, greases and vegetable-based oils, operating in five refineries. Nova Biosource, which reported a Q1 net loss of $11 million,…
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South African biodiesel production company First In Spec BioDiesel is planning to build a R250-million (€20 million) biodiesel plant that would convert waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. The company is planning to build a plant to produce 50 million litres a year of biodiesel. The company has already signed letters of intent for about 15 million litres a year of feedstock from companies…
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Delegates can now start networking and arrange meetings even before Biofuels International expo and conference starts. The event, now only a few weeks away in Amsterdam on 27-28 May, features a networking suite for all delegates and speakers which have registered, allowing you to specifically choose who you want to have lunch with. Lionel Clarke, Biodomain Global Strategic Programme Manager at…
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Finnish energy company St1 has begun selling its new domestic biofuel product Refuel containing 80-85% of bioethanol produced from Finnish bio-waste using the company’s Etanolix concept. The bioethanol in the fuel blend is produced from local industrial waste and side-streams with highly energy efficient concept and it can lead up to 80% less fossil carbon dioxide emissions from transport.…
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The Netherlands-headquartered bank Rabobank and sustainable solutions provider Econcern have reached financial close for establishing a sustainable energy system on the Caribbean island of Bonaire including a biodiesel plant. The project includes construction of a 14 MW biodiesel plant, supplied by MAN, and a 3 MW backup battery, and an 11 MW wind farm, supplied by Enercon. The system is…
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