Investors needed to mass produce alternative fuels

The government is still looking for more investors to massively produce alternative fuels in the country.

Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Dr. Graciano Yumol said that even if there is a program to market several bio-fuels, it may not be accepted by the public because of its price.

"It will never sell, even if the technologies, because of economics," Yumol said.

For now, bio-diesels derived from coconut, ethanol and jathropa curcas are expensive compared to the imported and commercialized diesel. Coco-mythel ester (CME) is reportedly sold at P120 a liter.

Raul Sabularse, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development, said it would still take time before the country can massively produce bio-fuels.

Sabularse said their agency is now studying the different sources of bio-fuels that are fit for public consumption.

One percent of CME and coco-diesel was seen to cut consumption of some 28 government agencies on imported oil, promoting better combustion in the engine since there is no need for modification.

Approximately, 31 to 37 percent of oil can be extracted from a jathropa seed. A hectare of jathropa, locally known as "tuba-tuba," can generate 1.6 metric ton of oil. - Ferliza C. Contratista