Friday Edition

08.01.08

GLOBAL

An economist at Rabo Agrifinance said that edible oil production is projected to grow by 18 million mt by 2012, with 60% of the growth in demand coming from increased biodiesel production, mainly palm oil and soybean oil. Much of the growth of biodiesel production will be from palm oil in Malaysia and Indonesia, with some increased production in Europe.

NORTH AMERICA

A survey conducted by the United Soybean Board found that US consumers strongly support US soybean farmers and the use of biodiesel, with 82% agreeing that foreign oil producing countries and the high cost of oil are to blame for food price increases; 77% of consumers surveyed favor biodiesel as a source of energy to meet US needs in the next five to ten years.

EcoAlgae USA has received $141 million from Saline County Missouri commissioners to construct a commercial algae production facility in conjunction with a biofuel plant. The company will contract with Green Star’s Associated Consortium of Companies to construct algae to biodiesel and waste to energy facilities.

Researchers in Texas, Arizona, and Illinois are looking at Lesquerella, a member of the mustard family, as a potential source for biofuels. The plant grows in the southwest US and Mexico, and produces seeds that contain a unique vegetable oil rich in fatty acids.

Nebraska Renewable Energy plans to collect all the used grease from the Nebraska State Fair concession stands to use for biodiesel production.

A new program from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will help public school systems in Alabama switch to biodiesel school buses by offering grants of up to $2500 to help pay for storage tanks for B20.

In Ashland, OR three graduates of Southern Oregon University have started the Rogue Valley's first biodiesel plant and hope to produce 100,000 gallons of fuel per year using used cooking oil from 45 local restaurants.

Hydroplane racing is turning to biofuels as the Miss Boeing 787 completed a three-hour run. The biodiesel fuel, produced by Imperium Renewables, is a mixture of 80% coconut oil and 20% Babassu oil, a light yellow vegetable oil.

Five startups in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario have received federal clean technology funding from a new round of $57 million for 19 projects by Sustainable Development Technology Canada. The startups will work on new approaches to making biodiesel, solar cells, and vehicle cooling systems.

SOUTH AMERICA

Biocombustibles Federales Chaco’s biodiesel plant is expected to come online in the city of Pampa del Infierno in the province of Chaco, Argentina within nine months. Construction is being financed with a loan from the regional bank Nuevo Banco del Chaco.

Nicaragua’s Energy Ministry and Holland’s Cooperation Development Service have signed an agreement to create a legal framework to strengthen Nicaragua’s energy sector. The ministry aims to promote public and/or private investment in sustainable renewable energy and biofuels.

EUROPE

Germany's biodiesel industry is facing more plant closures if the government proceeds with plans to raise biofuel taxes, according to industry officials. The government plans to increase taxes on biodiesel in January 2009 to $0.33 a litre, from $0.23, in the next stage of its program to bring taxes on green fuels to the same level as fossil fuels.

Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil have dropped plans to sell British biofuel additives producer Infineum, Reuters reports. The two companies were expecting bids in June, but bids failed to meet expectations and the bidders failed to secure firm financing.

In the UK, fats, oils and used grease from Skegness businesses could be recycled into biofuels under a new Anglian Water Plan. It is estimated 10,000 mt of FOG is currently in sewers across the county, taking up 10% of their capacity. If converted, this would make enough biodiesel to fuel 8,000 cars for a year.

Spanish car parts manufacturer CIE Automotive registered a $47 million consolidated net profit in the first half of 2008, up 18% on the year. CIE said sales revenue of its biofuels division was $252 million.

ASIA / PACIFIC

Gushan Environmental Energy Limited, China's largest biodiesel producer, announced that due to increased enforcement of traffic control measures adopted by the Beijing municipal government in preparation for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, it will temporarily suspend operations at its Beijing biodiesel plant from August 1, 2008 to September 20, 2008.

Malaysia and Indonesia may face dry weather this week, which will help in the crop's harvest, Dow Jones reports. The July-September quarter is considered to be the peak season for palm oil production for the year; in Malaysia, growers are expecting a 10%-15% growth in palm oil production in July.

Sawit Raya Oil says it will spend $15 million to build a palm oil plant at the state-run Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Lahad Datu, Malaysia. Construction of the 100,000 mt per year plant is expected to begin next year.

South Korea has introduced “Energy Security Initiative 2030” that aims to increase the nation's energy self-reliance and diversity. The policy includes a plan to expand the renewable energy supply from 2.4% in 2007 to 9% in 2030.

NEW ZEALAND

The UK's Argent Energy is halting plans to invest $73 million to produce biodiesel in New Zealand, claiming a government policy proposed under the Biofuel Bill would favor ethanol imports over domestic production.

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