Biodiesel group refutes Chevron claim on product testing

The Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) is disputing Chevron Philippines Inc.’s claim that coco-biodiesel has not been properly tested for commercial use.

"Biodiesels, which have been tested and accepted in many countries in Europe and in North America, were sourced from vegetable oil of even lesser stability than coconut oil," the TPBA said.

According to TPBA, these biodiesels, which are now being used extensively in those countries, have not caused widespread problems.

"There is, therefore, no reason to believe that the use of coco-ester in the same engine at only one percent will be of serious concern and does not deserve endorsement. Furthermore, ester from coconut fraction are already in use and sold by oil companies worldwide in more sensitive engines like jet engines," it said.

It added that "for many decades, polyol/di ester of C8/C10 cut had been the main ingredient of aviation lubricants. C8/C10 comes only from coconut and some from palm kernel as no other plant oil contains such a component. This alone indicates that the technical excellence of coco-ester had been tried, tested, and used for the past many decades."

While countering Chevron’s claims, the TPBA nevertheless welcomed the oil firm’s arguments, saying that this will open a venue for the association to answer the oil industry’s concerns.

"One thing about Chevron (formerly Caltex) is that they have been consistent in their position against any biofuel initiative from Day One – unlike those who say they support the CME program but do the opposite," it said.

"Much of the issues they present are echoes of the problems associated with rapeseed and soybean biodiesel which are quite different from coco-biodiesel. Such problems as bacterial growth, rust formation, corrosion, are results of high unsaturates of rapeseed and soybean (above 80 percent). These problems are non-existent in coco-biodiesel because CME is highly saturated (91 percent) and is therefore stable against oxidation, not prone to bacterial growth, and corrosion," the group said.

The group said "it is in fact more stable than conventional diesel. The fact that they are using the issues on rapeseed and soybean against coco-biodiesel simply indicate that they probably think all biodiesels are alike."

With this, the TPBA has urged the oil companies to join hands in pushing for the Biofuels Bill which will not only adhere to cheaper alternative fuels but also help clean the air.

"The Biofuels Bill is undoubtedly in the right direction since oil companies will never move into the development of green gold unless they have a commercial interest in it. This is evident in bioethanol which did not receive much obstruction from oil companies even at a five percent blend - because one of them is investing on a bioethanol plant," it said.

On the matter of government subsidy, the TPBA said this has never been a part of the national program and it is not the intention of government nor will it be favorable for government to put up a subsidy simply to ensure the success of the CME program.