International projects move ahead

The United States isn't the only nation in the world where biodiesel production and use is growing. In addition to the European Union (EU), many other countries are developing their own industries.

The Philippines' first biodiesel production facility is under construction and slated to start producing in the third quarter of 2006. The 60 million-liter (16 mmgy) facility will use coconut oil and palm oil as feedstocks. Chemrez Inc. is developing the project. The company is a member of the Biodiesel Manufacturers of the Philippines. According to Chemrez, Lurgi is providing continuous process technology. The facility will also include glycerin refining capabilities, according to Chemrez Operations Manager Jun Ang Lao.

The plant, located in Quezon City and touted as Asia's first continuous biodiesel facility, could be capable of meeting most of the country's biodiesel demand. The Department of Energy instituted a National B1 Program where all diesel fuel sold will incorporate 1 percent coco-biodiesel.

The Philippines produces approximately 1.4 million tons of coconut oil annually. Seventy percent of that production is exported.
In other international news, Bangalore, India-based Labland Biotech has announced its plans to produce 10 million jatropha plants specifically for biodiesel production. Labland is producing approximately 100 million tissue cultures derived from jatropha plants to distribute globally to biodiesel production countries situated in India, Africa, Central Asia and South America. Labland has developed an integrated center to research jatropha cultivation methods, contract farming and crude oil extraction.

The Indian government announced in 2004 that the country would introduce biodiesel into the nation's fuel supply by 2012.
Neste Oil, a northern European oil refining and marketing company, is implementing its proprietary technology for biodiesel production. The technology, dubbed NExBTL, was developed in the mid-1990s. A €100 million ($124 million) plant under construction in Finland, due for completion in summer 2007, will showcase the technology. The EU has set a goal of having nearly 6 percent of vehicles in the EU running on biofuels by the end of 2010.