Australian biodiesel project opposed by Greens over Indonesian, Malaysian palm oil

In Australia, a $30 million biodiesel plant in Port Botany has been opposed by the Green Party for proposing the use of Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil.

Last month, the Queensland government has approved a 40 Mgy biodiesel plant that will be constructed at Mackay, the will be operated by the Mackay Port Authority and begin production in 2008.

An Australian study found that switching to biodiesel reduces damage to throat cells.

Leigh Ackland, Associate Head of Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, who led the research, said: “Particulate matter is the burnt material, including carbon particles, emitted into the air. This particulate matter is part of biodiesel and diesel fumes but the particles produced from biodiesel were much less damaging to the cells than particles produced from diesel.”

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