Other News

Japan-based Cosmo Oil is set to invest US$800 million (€587 million) in the development of a starchy crop as raw material for biofuel production in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Pre-feasibility studies for a period of six months will begin soon. The studies will obtain data on appropriate crops, raw material and appropriate soil type. Following this, a three and half year long full-scale analysis…
Read More »

US energy company ExxonMobil has become the first petrol company to sell a biodiesel blend at the pump in New Zealand. The blend, 5% tallow-based biodiesel and 95% mineral diesel, has gone on sale as a trial in the Bay of Plenty. In 2007, Gull Petroleum introduced Gull Force 10, a 90% petrol and 10% bioethanol blend. Another renewable biofuel choice may soon be on offer if an application to…
Read More »

In the US, The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has awarded a total of more than $580,000 (€425,000) to three biomass-to-liquid fuel-related projects within the state. The Biofuels Center has been tasked to implement North Carolina’s renewable fuels standard, which mandates that by 2017, 10% of the liquid fuels sold in North Carolina should come from locally grown and produced…
Read More »

US senators have introduced a new legislation in Washington DC, for renewable biomass. Senators John Thune, Jon Tester, and Saxby Chambliss all agreed that a new bill, previously known under the RFS and the 2008 Farm Bill gives a clearer and better understanding of renewable biomass. Prior to the 2008 Bill, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 bill excluded all materials derived…
Read More »

Ghana has attracted the interest of several nations around the world for biofuels projects, the latest being India. Indian alternative energy companies have entered Ghana and have begun processes to cultivate crops for biofuels in the country. Currently, Brazilian, Norwegian, Israeli, Chinese, German, Dutch, Italian and Belgian businesses are investing in Ghana to cultivate jatropha and other…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

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…
Read More »

The results of VeraSun’s US bankruptcy court hearing could determine a new floor price for ethanol plants on the bankruptcy auction block. If the judge approves a suite of bids on VeraSun Energy 17 facilities, buyers interested in other distressed ethanol assets might hope to pay the same low prices offered by VeraSun's suitors. VeraSun accepted bids on 17 March totalling $993 million…
Read More »