October 7, 2011
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com

ohn Lourenze Poquiz, in Malaya Business Insight, reports that the Philippine government is abandoning its program of promoting jatropha as an alternative fuel source, in favor of algae, among other feedstocks.

Energy Secretary Jose Rena Almendras said the Philippine National Oil Co. Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), the biofuels arm of state-owned PNOC, “Will no longer push through with jatropha. We will look for other forms of alternative fuels. We want those that will not compete with food.” One of the new fuel sources the government is planning to explore is algae, Almendras said.

After the jatropha program was launched in 2009, PNOC-AFC entered in agreements with various groups and local government units for the planting of jatropha plants, whose seeds contain oil similar to diesel. PNOC-AFC had allotted about P1 billion for the development of jatropha as feedstock since 2009. Almendras said about P400 million is left from the original fund. The official said that the remaining amount could be used to develop other forms of alternative fuels.

Read more: http://www.malaya.com.ph/oct05/busi3.html

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