Other News

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is delivering on its promise to provide green, sustainable transport fuels despite a Government slowdown on targets one year after its introduction, the Renewable Energy Association says. The RTFO was intended to ensure that 2.5% of all fuels used came from renewable sources as from 15 April 2008. However, an error in the drafting of the legislation…
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The UK’s Environment Agency has released a new report that highlights how biomass energy could play a key role in delivering greenhouse gas emission targets but only if it is supported by the Government and action is taken to ensure it is genuinely low carbon. 'Biomass – carbon sink or carbon sinner?' finds that using energy crops or waste materials as fuel for generating…
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The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company has revealed that Iran plans to produce bioethanol. ‘The project to produce bioethanol is to start in the next three months,’ head of the company Ali Ameri comments. The Oil Ministry is also going to sign an accord with the Iranian association of ethanol producers. Iran produces around 17.86 million tonnes of waste crops every year,…
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Illinois-based Blackhawk Biofuels has recently completed upgrades to its 45 mgy facility in Danville, Illinois, US. The $12 million (€9 million) project included the installation of multiple feedstock pretreatment and production upgrades, enhanced laboratory and testing facilities and improvements for storage and logistics capabilities. Upgrades began in September 2008 to enhance the…
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Biofuels International expo & conference in Amsterdam is now only 6 weeks away, on the 27-28th May. Don’t miss out on your chance to be there - last year’s event attracted over 500 attendees and this year’s event is expected to be even bigger and better. The two day conference and exhibition brings you presentations from Shell Global Solution, Bentley Motors, Ineos Bio, Inbicon,…
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Tennessee-based Biofuels America is seeking around $20 million (€15 million) in equity investment towards development of a ligno-cellulosic biorefinery The biorefinery Project Tennessee will be developed on a 35-acre closed ethanol facility and will use wood waste and municipal solid waste as feedstocks to produce 30 mgy of ethanol, high value bio-chemicals such as lignin and furfural as well…
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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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