D1 Oils CEO calls on NGOs to make distinctions between fuels and feedstocks and stop “generically” bashing biofuels

In Bali, the CEO of D1 Oils called on NGOs to stop generically bashing biofuels, but rather to make distinctions between fuels and feedstocks, to set defined sustainability standards and to support those fuels and feedstocks that meet those standards. Karl Watkin was speaking at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali.

D1 is assembling substantial biodiesel production capacity. It owns a stake in D1 Williamson Magor Biofuels, which aims to establish a 55,000 hectare jatropha plantation in eastern India. D1 has a $90 million joint venture with BP, and has 338,000 acres under jatropha production with plans to plant more than 80,000 acres in Swaziland, Zambia, Madagascar, Mali and Malawi.

D1 Oils is opening a $14 million biodiesel plant in Bromborough, England. The 100 million metric ton plant will add a further 100,000 ton capacity next year when D1 Oil’s jatropha oil stocks are sufficiently built up. The plant will supply fuels to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.

Recently, D1 Oils plc and Stiller Group completed a six-month test in the UK, running 19 Scania trucks for a million miles on soy-based B100 biodiesel. Results showed no change in engine or vehicle performance, and a minimal reduction but undisclosed reduction in miles per gallon compared to petroleum diesel.

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