Wednesday Edition

06.18.09

Global





UN REPORT FORECASTS WORLD COMMODITY PRICES


World prices for many commodities nearly doubled between 2007 and
2008, but fell from record highs due to increased production, weaker
demand, and the global economic crisis. However, for the next 10
years, prices are projected at, or above, the levels of the decade
prior to the 2007-08 peaks, according to a new report [http://www.agri-outlook.org/pages/0,2987,en_36774715_36775671_1_1_1_1_1,00.html]
released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.





North America





BIODIESEL LOBBYING EFFORT KICKS OFF


The Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/] is launching
a lobbying effort to extend the $1/gal biodiesel tax credit to 2018,
and eliminate the indirect land use change requirement from the
proposed RFS-2. CEA members include the Biodiesel Producers Council,
Green Earth Fuels, Delta American Fuels, and Memphis Biofuels among
others, OPIS reports.





NREL AND GOOGLE LAUNCH BIODIESEL FUEL STATION MAP


The National Renewable Energy Labs and Google have partnered to launch
a tool called TransAtlas [http://rpm.nrel.gov/transatlas/launch] that maps
all existing and planned alternative fuel stations across the US.
Alternative fuels mapped include biodiesel, propane, liquified natural
gas, compressed natural gas, E85, and hydrogen.





USB AND DOE TO PROMOTE SOY BIODIESEL NATION-WIDE


The United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff will partner with seven
US DOE affiliated Clean Cities chapters to promote soy-based biodiesel
this summer. Through a reimbursement program sponsored by USB, these
coalitions will carry out activities including promotional and
educational campaigns, and roundtable workshops.





CARGILL SUES BIODIESEL COMPANY FOR CONTRACT BREACH


Cargill is suing Memphis Biofuels for breach of contract to collect on
debt. Memphis Biofuels owes Cargill $127,000 for deliveries of grease
for the biodiesel startup company this year, according t0 a court
complaint filed this month in Shelby County Chancery Court, a Memphis
news outlet reports. Read more [http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=43137]






US ARMY PARTNERS TO TEST RENEWABLE JET FUEL


Michigan-based Alternative Fuel Technologies will partner with the US
Army to test jet fuel in a high pressure diesel fuel injection system.
The test will use DME fuel, a clean diesel fuel replacement that can
be produced from natural gas, landfill methane, coal and biomass,
which is stated to be produced and distributed at less than half the
cost of conventional fuel. Read more [http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Alternative-Fuel-Technologies-1004202.html]






Europe





STORA ENSO TO ASSESS BIOFUEL FROM WASTE LOGGING PRODUCTS


Stora Enso, Europe's biggest papermaker, will take one year to assess
the a biofuel venture that would run on leaves, stumps and branches
left over from logging, Bloomberg reports. Stora and Neste Oil are
operating a pilot project in Varkaus, Finland, and a commercial plant
could be running by 2015. Read more [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aFxqbfUXOgm8]






Asia / Pacific





MALAYSIAN PALM OIL OUTPUT TO REMAIN WEAK


Palm oil output growth in Malaysia will remain weak over the next two
years due to an aggressive replanting scheme, and hot weather
stressing oil palm yield, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.





THAI COMPANIES SIGN MILLION GALLON BIODIESEL CONTRACT


Thailand-based PTT Plc. has signed a 1-year, 4.7 million gallon
contract to purchase biodiesel from Energy Absolute Plc. The buying
price was not disclosed.





TOYOTA EXPANDS BIODIESEL INVESTMENTS


Toyota Tsusho Corp. is planning to expand its biodiesel investments by
developing a large-scale alternative energy production complex to
supply Toyota automobiles. TTC and the National Development Co., the
Philippine government's investment arm, are forging a MOU to
facilitate the project implementation. Read more [http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/207207/toyota-firm-mulls-biodiesel-production]






Australia





MISSION NEWENERGY COMMENCES BIODIESEL PLANT


Australia-based Mission NewEnergy has raised $11 million in a
placement, bringing its total raisings to $26.82 million in the past
month. The company said it had issued 75.86 million new shares
following the placement of 24.13 million shares on April 28. The
company has also commenced commissioning of its second biodiesel plant
at Kuantan Port in Malaysia.





Market Views





BIODIESEL PRODUCTION TO INCREASE ON GOVERNMENT MANDATES


The share of vegetable oil consumption for biodiesel production will
increase from 9% in 2006-08 to 20% in 2018, according to a UN report.

In the EU biodiesel could attain an energy share of 7.4% in fossil
diesel usage by 2018 on steadfast biodiesel demand met by increased
domestic production and, eventually growing biodiesel imports.

Given high biodiesel prices, growth in biodiesel usage in the United
States will almost entirely be driven by mandates which require over 1
billion gallons of biodiesel to be used in 2012.

Biodiesel use in Brazil is assumed to grow rapidly following ambitious
government targets, and could represent 4% of fuel usage by 2018,
compared to just under 2% in 2006-08.

Read the report here [http://www.agri-outlook.org/pages/0,2987,en_36774715_36775671_1_1_1_1_1,00.html]

About World Energy