Philippines successfully tests jatropha biodiesel to European and US standards; biofuel development continues to move quickly

In the Philippines, the Integrated Research and Training Center at the Technological University of the Philippines, working with Chemrez Technologies, announced the successful test of jatropha based biodiesel production.

The TUP extracted jatropha oil and Chemrez was responsible for conversion of the oil into biodiesel. The test batches of biodiesel met the standards of both EN 14214 (Europe) and ASTM D6751 (US)). The PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC) PNOC, provided the jatropha seeds. Last month, PNOC-AFC signed a deal to acquire the jatropha production of Royal Green Energy.

The test follows on from several developments in the fast-growing Philippine biofuel industry. Last month, a deal collapsed between PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corp and British-based NRG Chemical Engineering to construct a jatropha plantation and biodiesel plant.

However, this year nine Philippine companies have pledged more than $440 million towards biofuels production investment. The companies include: Bio-Energy NL; E-Cane/Pampanga Industrial Park.; Philippine Agricultural Land Development and Mill; Zambo Norte Bioenergy; Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels, Guidance Management, Fuel Inc, South Bukidnon Bioenergy, and Eastern Petroleum.

This week, the Department of Agriculture said that Western Visayas, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern and Central Mindanao and the Davao Region would be the focus for biofuels production expansion. Agriculture Minister Yap said that biofuel development deals would be shortly announced based on outright land purchases, lease arrangements or production contracts.

The Philippines have a B1 and E5 mandate scheduled to go into effect in 2009, rising to B2 and E10 in 2011. Philippine demand for biofuels is expected to rise to 187 million galls of ethanol and 54 gallons of biodiesel by 2011.

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