Jul 28 2010
The Philippines Energy Department is all set to import bioethanol as a temporary measure next year in order to implement the Biofuels Law which requires a 10% biofuels mix in gasoline.
During the 28th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting held in Vietnam, Jose Rene Almendras, the Energy Secretary, opined that since the bioethanol industry does not currently have the strength to respond to the needs of the energy market, a temporary scheme for the purpose of bioethanol importation has to be adopted until domestic supply reaches a stable level.
The Biofuels Law of 2006 in Philippines allows oil companies to import bioethanol only to the extent of the local shortage quantity, so that the nation’s energy independence goal stays on track. Previously, the country’s Ethanol Producers Association had predicted that the 2010-production will be 80 million liters as against the demand for about 240 million liters.
Source: http://www.doe.gov.ph/