Pacific Bio-Fields and Bio-Energy NL to plant 1.3 million acres of coconuts in the Philippines, biodiesel producers seen as major customers for oil

In the Philippines, Pacific Bio-Fields and Bio-Energy NL will convert 1.3 million acres of bare land into coconut plantations in a multi-year plan that will begin shortly with an initial 200,000 acre planting. The plantations will be located in Barangay Caunayan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, in Northern Luzon.

The Philippine Coconut Industry Investment Fund Oil Mills Group said that it would partner with the UK’s International Fuel Technology to develop a process to use medium chain fatty acids from coconut oil for biodiesel.

The current process, which uses long chain fatty acids, is a process developed for other oils such as soy or palm. The group intends to significantly reduce the production cost and performance characteristics of coconut oil-biodiesel.

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.

Eight Philippine companies have pledged more than $350 million towards biofuels production investment. The companies include: Bio-Energy NL, Inc.; E-Cane/Pampanga Industrial Park Corp.; Philippine Agricultural Land Development and Mill, Inc (PALM, Inc.); and Zambo Norte Bioenergy; Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels Corp., Guidance Management Corp., Fuel, Inc. and Eastern Petroleum.

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