Major oil depots complied with biofuels law – DOE

Majority of oil depots in the country have complied with Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006, said the Alternative Fuels and Energy Technology Division of the Department of Energy.

During the 6th Visayas Mineral Industry and Energy Summit, Andresito Ulgado, DOE Senior Science Research Specialist, said RA 9367 is gaining strong compliance from oil companies and concerned bureaus, departments and offices based on validation and inspection of major depots in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Enacted in 2006, RA 9367 mandates the blending of biofuels into biodiesels and the major depots in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are said to have complied with this mandate, Ulgado said.

Ulgado said that by 2009, the current one percent biodiesel blend requirement will be raised to two percent to increase diesel displacement to 163.9 million liters from 78.8 million liters and increase the Forex savings to 90.15 million dollars from 43.34 million dollars.

Also next year, a five percent bioethanol blend will be mandated and the same would be increased to 10 percent by 2011.

DOE has also drafted the National Biofuels Program, which is now under review by the National Biofuels Board. The program envisions achieving energy independence and fuel diversification while meeting environmental challenges through the utilization of biofuels such as coco-biofuels, jathropa and bio-ethanol.

It suggests the use of coco-biodiesel because of the latter’s economic benefits to the coconut industry and to the country, and because of its environmental and health benefits.

The NBP also promotes jathropa as biodiesel feedstock because it can produce an average of 30 to 40 percent non-edible oil, which is 0.75 to two tons of biodiesel per hectare.

Bioethanol was said to reduce dependence of the country on imported oil, increase economic activity in the countryside, boosts employment, is environment-friendly, improves combustion and reduces emissions.

Several initiatives are already undertaken to approve the program for full implementation.

Ulgado said these initiatives by the DOE are powered by its aim to increase the fuel self-sufficiency of the country by 2010. —Jessica Ann Pareja/JMO