Update on biofuels

While other more progressive countries have shifted into the use of biofuels as alternative sources of energy, we are still in the process of evaluating its pros and cons. We read that there is an ongoing debate on whether the country should go into the development of biofuels. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said this could adversely affect the country’s ability to produce its own food. On the other hand, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri accuses oil companies of financing a campaign against the Arroyo administration’s program to develop biofuels, specifically those made from jatropha and ethanol. As far as we know, both senators are proponents of the Biofuels Act of 2006, which mandates the use of biofuels as alternative fuel. The good news is coco biodiesel is already available to the motorists in the country. From 1% to the 5% which is mandated by law to be added to the ordinary diesel, a significant savings will already be made, if only all the motorists with diesel-fed vehicles will comply.

In other developments abroad, American farmers are planning to plant the most corn since World War II to cash in on ethanol, which is added to gasoline. Much of the rest of the world is also turning to jatropha, which is used as a substitute for diesel fuel. Many global business leaders today envisage jatropha to be the next revolution in the world’s search for renewable fuel. We read that jatropha is a wonder plant that produces seeds with an oil content of up to 40%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully as fuel for simple diesel engine. The leafy bush thrives in arid regions and the worse stony ground around the equator, has no use as food, and takes little refinement — a hydraulic press to squeeze the oil from the seeds, and a chemical solution to create and filter the fuel. When the seeds are crushed and processed, the resulting oil can be used in a standard diesel engine, while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants. Thus, many countries from China to Brazil have begun setting aside tens of thousands of acres for the cultivation of jatropha. At the same time, companies from Europe and India have begun buying up land throughout Africa to establish jatropha plantations. The simple infrastructure that is needed — sufficient farms, transport routes, and processing plants — is an added advantage. The fact that it can also be intercropped with other cash crops such as coffee, sugar, fruits and vegetables, makes it a favorable choice for us.

The recent global fuel hike brings to fore the need to develop alternative sources of fuels such as jatropha. We welcome the move of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in creating the Philippine National Oil Company -Alternative Fuel Corporation with the directive to have the primary responsibility over the Biofuel Project and to be the one to coordinate with the concerned government agencies in exploring, developing and accelerating the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy and technologies and carrying on the business of alternative fuels and other related activities. We have many untapped lands across the country that can be used for planting jatropha. This will also mean additional income for our farmers. We hope our officials, after weighing both advantages and disadvantages, will get their act together and think of the country’s welfare more than anything. The sooner, the better for all of us.