DOE delays higher biodiesel blend anew

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Energy (DOE) has delayed anew the implementation of the higher blended biodiesel as the government continues to look for feedstock sources.

The DOE said the two percent biodiesel blending on diesel would be maintained until 2019 based on its Biofuels Roadmap 2017-2040.

It is only in the medium to long term the agency has scheduled to revisit the blending requirement.

The DOE said it would continue conduct of research and development on feedstock sources. Currently, the Philippines uses coconut as feedstock for biodiesel.

The Biofuels Act of 2006 mandates the amount of coconut oil for fuel to be blended with diesel may be increased taking into account the domestic supply and availability of locally sourced biodiesel.

By 2015, the biodiesel blend should be at five percent, and would be raised to 10 percent and 20 percent by 2020 and 2030, respectively.

But since 2009, the biodiesel blend has remained at two percent.

In 2013, the DOE asked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to conduct an “impact study” for the implementation of the higher biodiesel blend of five percent from the current two percent.

The study aims to assess the demand and supply of coconut biodiesel, the logistics, as well as the impact on prices.

The agency has also  engaged University of the Philippines-Los Banos economics professor U-Primo Rodriguez to determine the impact of biodiesel on coconut farmers.

The professor has an established model that would ascertain benefits of a higher blend in biodiesel “down to the farmer level.”