news/updates
PNOC subsidiary plans 3 new biodiesel plants
MANILA, April 2007 -- The government is planning to put up at least three new bio-diesel processing plants within the next three years, a ranking energy official said.
In a presentation during a conference on bio-fuels and feedstocks here, PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC) president Peter Abaya said they are tapping various local and foreign partners for the company’s bio-diesel project.
“Discussions with potential partners are underway,” the PNOC official said.
Among the interested joint venture partners are: Samsung (Korea); Sumitomo (Japan); JGC (Japan); National Biofuels (USA); HDZ (Malaysia); Brunei National Petroluem Co. (Brunei); Chemrez Inc. (Philippines); Biogreen Energy Sdn Bhd; and Limketkai Mfg Co. (Philippines).
Abaya said Sumitomo is looking at putting up a bio-diesel terminal facility in the PNOC-AFC Industrial Park in Bataan.
JGC, on the other hand, is planning to construct an ethanol processing plant.
National Biofuels, meanwhile, intends to put up two bio-fuel refineries inside the PNOC-AFC park and one in Mindanao.
Chemrez is talking with PNC_AFC for a possible joint venture to put up a plant within the park.
Limketkai, which used to produce edible oil, is planning to diversify into jatropha processing.
Talks with Biogreen, Abaya said, are also ongoing for a possible partnership on jatropha development.
Local companies including Seaoil have also expressed keen interest in joining the PNOC-AFC in the proposed project.
By Donnabelle E. Gatdula
Philippine Star
2/01/07
