7 pioneers in use of alternative fuels get citations

The government has given special citations to seven pioneering companies and individuals for promoting and developing alternative fuels such as coco-biodiesel and fuel ethanol.

President Arroyo gave special awards to Chemrez Inc., Flying V, Seaoil Philippines, Insoil Corp., St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Multipurpose Cooperative, Rafael Diaz of Asian Institute of Petroleum Studies Inc. and Alex Loinaz of FILCAR Foundation.

Chemrez. is the pioneering manufacturer of coco-biodiesel and is one of the only three DOE-accredited coco-biodiesel manufacturers in the country. Recently, Chemrez expanded its operation with the construction of a P650-million bio-diesel plant, the first dedicated bio-diesel plant in the country and in Asia. The Chemrez plant currently has a yearly production capacity of 15 million liters. The expansion project, targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2006, will increase the production capacity to 60 million.

Flying V and Seaoil, both new players in the downstream oil industry, pioneered the sale of pre-blended coco-methyl ester (CME) and ethanol available in gasoline stations at the pump. So far, only these two companies have responded to the challenge of the government to introduce alternative transport fuels in their stations.

Flying V already offers CME-blended diesel in 30 stations nationwide, while Seaoil already offers ethanol-blended gasoline in 30 stations in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. On the other hand, Insoil Corp., a sister company of Flying V, was the first business company to be accredited by the DOE to repack and sell CME brand Envirotek, which is being sold in more than 30 Flying V stations.

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Multipurpose Cooperative of Romblon was the first small-scale manufacturer to be accredited by the DOE. In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD), the cooperative embarked on a project that would utilize CME as diesel fuel substitute in the province of Romblon. – Donnabelle Gatdula