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    Malaysia's Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui announces he will head a delegation to the EU in June, "to counter European anti-palm oil activists on their own home ground". The South East Asian palm oil industry is seen by many European civil society organisations and policy makers as unsustainable and responsible for heavy deforestation. Malaysia Star - May 20, 2007.

    Paraguay and Brazil kick off a top-level seminar on biofuels, cooperation on which they see as 'strategic' from an energy security perspective. 'Biocombustiveis Paraguai-Brasil: Integração, Produção e Oportunidade de Negócios' is a top-level meeting bringing together the leaders of both countries as well as energy and agricultural experts. The aim is to internationalise the biofuels industry and to use it as a tool to strengthen regional integration and South-South cooperation. PanoramaBrasil [*Portuguese] - May 19, 2007.

    Portugal's Galp Energia SGPS and Petrobras SA have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a biofuels joint venture. The joint venture will undertake technical and financial feasibility studies to set up a plant in Brazil to export biofuels to Portugal. Forbes - May 19, 2007.

    The Cypriot parliament has rejected an amendment by President Papadopoulos on the law regarding the use of biofuels that contain genetically modified substances. The amendment called for an alteration in the law that currently did not allow the import or use of biofuels that had been produced using GM substances, something that goes against a recent EU Directive on GMOs. Cyprus Mail - May 18, 2007.

    According to Salvador Rivas, the director for Non-Conventional Energy at the Dominican Republic's Industry and Commerce Ministry, a group of companies from Brazil wants to invest more than 100 million dollars to produce ethanol in the country, both for local consumption and export to the United States. Dominican Today - May 16, 2007.

    EWE AG, a German multi-service energy company, has started construction on a plant aimed at purifying biogas so that it can be fed into the natural gas grid. Before the end of the year, EWE AG will be selling the biogas to end users via its subsidiary EWE Naturwatt. Solarthemen [*German] - May 16, 2007.

    Scania will introduce an ethanol-fueled hybrid bus concept at the UITP public transport congress in Helsinki 21-24 May 2007. The full-size low-floor city bus is designed to cut fossil CO2 emissions by up to 90% when running on the ethanol blend and reduce fuel consumption by at least 25%. GreenCarCongress - May 16, 2007.

    A report by the NGO Christian Aid predicts there may be 1 billion climate refugees and migrants by 2050. It shows the effects of conflicts on populations in poor countries and draws parallels with the situation as it could develop because of climate change. Christian Aid - May 14, 2007.

    Dutch multinational oil group Rompetrol, also known as TRG, has entered the biofuel market in France in conjunction with its French subsidiary Dyneff. It hopes to equip approximately 30 filling stations to provide superethanol E85 distribution to French consumers by the end of 2007. Energy Business Review - May 13, 2007.

    A group of British organisations launches the National Forum on Bio-Methane as a Road Transport Fuel. Bio-methane or biogas is widely regarded as the cleanest of all transport fuels, even cleaner than hydrogen or electric vehicles. Several EU projects across the Union have shown its viability. The UK forum was lauched at the Naturally Gas conference on 1st May 2007 in Loughborough, which was hosted by Cenex in partnership with the NSCA and the Natural Gas Vehicle Association. NSCA - May 11, 2007.

    We reported earlier on Dynamotive and Tecna SA's initiative to build 6 bio-oil plants in the Argentinian province of Corrientes (here). Dynamotive has now officially confirmed this news. Dynamotive - May 11, 2007.

    Nigeria launches a national biofuels feasibility study that will look at the potential to link the agricultural sector to the automotive fuels sector. Tim Gbugu, project leader, said "if we are able to link agriculture, we will have large employment opportunity for the sustenance of this country, we have vast land that can be utilised". This Day Onlin (Lagos) - May 9, 2007.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meets with the CEO of Portuguese energy company Galp Energia, which will sign a biofuel cooperation agreement with Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras. GP1 (*Portuguese) - May 9, 2007.

    The BBC has an interesting story on how biodiesel made from coconut oil is taking the pacific island of Bougainville by storm. Small refineries turn the oil into an affordable fuel that replaces costly imported petroleum products. BBC - May 8, 2007.

    Indian car manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra is set to launch its first B100-powered vehicles for commercial use by this year-end. The company is confident of fitting the new engines in all its existing models. Sify - May 8, 2007.

    The Biofuels Act of the Philippines has come into effect today. The law requires all oil firms in the country to blend 2% biodiesel (most often coconut-methyl ester) in their diesel products. AHN - May 7, 2007.

    Successful tests based on EU-criteria result in approval of 5 new maize hybrids that were developed as dedicated biogas crops [*German]. Veredlungsproduktion - May 6, 2007.

    With funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development (WIRED), Michigan State University intends to open a training facility dedicated to students and workers who want to start a career in the State's growing bioeconomy. Michigan State University - May 4, 2007.

    Researchers from the Texas A&M University have presented a "giant" sorghum variety for the production of ethanol. The crop is drought-tolerant and yields high amounts of ethanol. Texas A & M - May 3, 2007.

    C-Tran, the public transportation system serving Southwest Washington and parts of Portland, has converted its 97-bus fleet and other diesel vehicles to run on a blend of 20% biodiesel beginning 1 May from its current fleet-wide use of B5. Automotive World - May 3, 2007.

    The Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) and France's largest research organisation, the CNRS, have signed a framework-agreement to cooperate on the development of new energy technologies, including research into biomass based fuels and products, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies. CNRS - April 30, 2007.

    One of India's largest state-owned bus companies, the Andra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is to use biodiesel in one depot of each of the 23 districts of the state. The company operates some 22,000 buses that use 330 million liters of diesel per year. Times of India - April 30, 2007.

    Indian sugar producers face surpluses after a bumper harvest and low prices. Diverting excess sugar into the ethanol industry now becomes more attractive. India is the world's second largest sugar producer. NDTVProfit - April 30, 2007.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet on Thursday signed a biofuel cooperation agreement designed to share Brazil's experience in ethanol production and help Chile develop biofuels and fuel which Lula seeks to promote in other countries. More info to follow. People's Daily Online - April 27, 2007.

    Italy's Benetton plans to build a €61 million wood processing and biomass pellet production factory Nagyatád (southwest Hungary). The plant will be powered by biogas. Budapest Sun - April 27, 2007.

    Cargill is to build an ethanol plant in the Magdeburger Börde, located on the river Elbe, Germany. The facility, which will be integrated into existing starch processing plant, will have an annual capacity of 100,000 cubic meters and use grain as its feedstock. FIF - April 26, 2007.

    Wärtsilä Corporation was awarded a contract by the Belgian independent power producer Renogen S.A. to supply a second biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plant in the municipality of Amel in the Ardennes, Belgium. The new plant will have a net electrical power output of 3.29 MWe, and a thermal output of up to 10 MWth for district heating. The electrical output in condensing operation is 5.3 MWe. Kauppalehti - April 25, 2007.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Fourteen grants to spur bioenergy development in Alberta

Last month, the government of Canada's Alberta province approved fourteen renewable energy projects that will receive grant funding to support the development and expansion of bioenergy facilities and technology. The grant recipients will receive a total of C$5 (€3.4/US$4.6) million in the first phase of funding.

The grants are a part of Alberta's 'Nine-Point Bio-Energy Plan', which helps support the integration of liquid biofuels, biogas and and biomass generated power with Alberta's traditional energy sources. The province is Canada's largest producer of conventional crude oil, synthetic crude, natural gas and gas products. It is also home to the Athabasca Oil Sands which have estimated non-conventional oil reserves approximately equal to the conventional oil reserves of the rest of the world.

Last year, the Alberta government committed C$239 (€163/US$220) million over five years to the plan to help build a viable market for bioenergy in the province and encourage further private investment.

Under the 'Bio-refining Commercialization and Market Development Program', fourteen grants go to the following organisations and projects:
  • Infinite Energy (Vegreville): Feasibility study on construction of ethanol plant (Vegreville)
  • Canadian BioEnergy Corp.(Vancouver): Biodiesel production from 114 million litre bio-diesel facility (Sturgeon County)
  • Climate Change Central (Calgary): Multi-season, ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) / biodiesel performance pilot study (Calgary)
  • ECB Enviro North America (Fort Macleod): Construction of a 3 megawatt green power biogas co-generation project (Lethbridge)
  • Highmark Renewables (Vegreville): Construction of a bio-based fertilizer commercialization facility (Vegreville)
  • Lignol Innovation Corp.(Vancouver): Completion of Lignol's proprietary bio-refining technology platform (Alberta site to be determined)
  • Olds College (Olds): Establish a split tank bio-diesel storage demonstration system. (Olds)
  • Rogers Sugar (Taber): Conduct a feasibility study on production of bio-ethanol facility (Taber)
  • Canadian BioEnergy Corp. (Vancouver): Conduct a study on diesel distribution infrastructure in western Canada and assess market for optimal integration of bio-diesel.
  • Kyoto Fuels Corp. (Lethbridge): Establish a 33 million litre bio-diesel processing facility based on vegetable oils and animals fats. (Lethbridge)
  • Western Biodiesel Inc. (Calgary): Establish a 19 million litre bio-diesel processing facility based on vegetable oils and animals fats. (Aldersyde)
  • West Coast Biodiesel Ltd. (Vancouver): Establish a 57 million litre bio-diesel processing facility based on vegetable oils and animals fats. (Calgary)
  • 1307350 Alberta Ltd. (Calgary): Market development to support a 378.5 million litre canola crush facility, a 378.5 million litre bio-diesel facility and a 378.5 million litre ethanol producing facility on a single site (Alberta site to be determined)
Five of those organisations receive further grants under the 'Bio-energy Infrastructure Development Program' (Western Biodiesel Inc., West Coast Biodiesel Ltd., Climate Change Central, ECB Enviro North America, Kyoto Fuels Corp). Highmark Disposals from Vegreville received a grant under this program from the construction of a Specific Risk Materials (SRM) destruction plant and dead stock-handling unit in Calgary:
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

The funding will see the development of various facilities throughout the province producing various bio-fuels, including bio-diesel and ethanol, as well as launching studies to assess the long-term sustainability of the bio-energy marketplace in Alberta. The funding is drawn from the two programs' 2006-07 budget allocations.

The development of renewable energy, such as bio-fuels, supports Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to build a stronger Alberta. Other priorities for the government are to govern with integrity and transparency, manage growth pressures, improve Albertans' quality of life and promote safe and secure communities.

posted by Biopact team at 1:12 PM  

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