Chemrez firms up plans for expansion

Chemrez Technologies Inc. is firming up plans to further expand operations in the country following its ISO certification as a biodiesel producer.

"Our expansion plans are there, but we have yet to identify the areas where we would expand. Expansion depends on growing competition, logistics, location, changing laws, among others," said Chemrez chief operating officer Dean A. Lao Jr.

He said among the factors they are considering before expanding include changing regulations like allowing other feedstock such as jatropha, and the mandatory minimum blend.

Chemrez recently achieved a milestone when it became the first and only Philippine producer of biodiesel whose integrated management system, environment management system and health and safety management system were all given the ISO seal.

Lao said this would enhance the competitiveness of the Chemrez organization as well as meet the needs and expectations of many of its customers who are themselves ISO-certified in many areas of their respective businesses.

Chemrez’s achievement also comes at an opportune time as the implementing rules and regulations of the Biofuels Act are about to be issued and would likely contain an eventual prescription for eligible producers of biofuels.

The Biofuels Act, which was enacted into law last January, will require the mandatory blending of coco-biodiesel with petroleum diesel initially at one percent by next month, increasing to two percent within two years.