Fish fat as a biodiesel feedstock in the Mekong Delta
Vietnam’s leading catfish co-op Agifish has teamed up with SaigonPetro and two local refrigeration firms to produce a biofuel efficient enough to run diesel engines from the fat of 'tra' and 'basa' fish (catfish).
The product, a biofuel produced from tra and basa fat, is believed to be non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and more efficient than diesel. Yet it’s greatest selling point is that it generates far less exhaust, although nothing has been said of any associated stench. According to Agifish director Hau, production of fuel from fish fat was studied for more than a year and has been applauded by the national scientific council and local tra and basa fish farmers and processors.
A 30,000 tonne/year biodiesel plant will be set up in the southern province of An Giang, where Agifish is located. All equipment needed to run it would have to be imported. As Mekong Delta provinces consume 400,000 tonnes of basa and tra every year, fish fat supply for the bio-fuel plant is more than assured, with 50,000 tonnes of fish fat to be provided by fish processors in the area.
Agifish has recently set up a cooperative of 'clean' farming members to produce catfish that meets international food safety standards. The co-op, comprised of 19 catfish farms, is expected to supply Agifish about 50,000 tonnes of environmentally friendly produced tra and basa catfish a year:
biodiesel :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: feedstock :: catfish :: Vietnam ::
Hau said this and another such co-op to be formed in future would be important sources for the plant to produce bio-fuel. Although he did not elaborate as to why food grade fish fat was important to the production of an engine fuel.
Catfish is a major export item for Vietnam, and recently large importers have been asking exporters in Vietnam, including Agifish, to manage fish purchasing and shipping instead of sourcing individual suppliers themselves.
In associated fishy news, the Ministry of Fisheries has embarked on a programme to establish a catfish quality control system with the ultimate goal of developing “Basa Vietnam” into an established brand.
The ministry’s brand development programme for basa and tra is in association with its effort to ensure sustainable development, competitiveness and product quality in the catfish farming sector. When the brand was in place, the sector would become an industrial spearhead with annual output of one million tonnes.
Vietnam Investment Review: Breakthrough: energy efficient fuel from tra and basa fish fat -
The product, a biofuel produced from tra and basa fat, is believed to be non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and more efficient than diesel. Yet it’s greatest selling point is that it generates far less exhaust, although nothing has been said of any associated stench. According to Agifish director Hau, production of fuel from fish fat was studied for more than a year and has been applauded by the national scientific council and local tra and basa fish farmers and processors.
A 30,000 tonne/year biodiesel plant will be set up in the southern province of An Giang, where Agifish is located. All equipment needed to run it would have to be imported. As Mekong Delta provinces consume 400,000 tonnes of basa and tra every year, fish fat supply for the bio-fuel plant is more than assured, with 50,000 tonnes of fish fat to be provided by fish processors in the area.
Agifish has recently set up a cooperative of 'clean' farming members to produce catfish that meets international food safety standards. The co-op, comprised of 19 catfish farms, is expected to supply Agifish about 50,000 tonnes of environmentally friendly produced tra and basa catfish a year:
biodiesel :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: feedstock :: catfish :: Vietnam ::
Hau said this and another such co-op to be formed in future would be important sources for the plant to produce bio-fuel. Although he did not elaborate as to why food grade fish fat was important to the production of an engine fuel.
Catfish is a major export item for Vietnam, and recently large importers have been asking exporters in Vietnam, including Agifish, to manage fish purchasing and shipping instead of sourcing individual suppliers themselves.
In associated fishy news, the Ministry of Fisheries has embarked on a programme to establish a catfish quality control system with the ultimate goal of developing “Basa Vietnam” into an established brand.
The ministry’s brand development programme for basa and tra is in association with its effort to ensure sustainable development, competitiveness and product quality in the catfish farming sector. When the brand was in place, the sector would become an industrial spearhead with annual output of one million tonnes.
Vietnam Investment Review: Breakthrough: energy efficient fuel from tra and basa fish fat -
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