news/updates
GMA urges Luzon farmers to plant coconut trees
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula
Philippine Star
February 11, 2008
President Arroyo is urging farmers in Luzon to plant more coconut trees to help sustain the country's biofuels program.
This as she cited biofuel pioneer and biodiesel manufacturer Chemrez Technologies Inc. for helping the government gain headway toward energy independence.
During the recently concluded Philippine Energy Summit, Mrs. Arroyo said the Philippines now sources 60 percent of its energy requirements from domestic supply from 43 percent in 2001.
“The strong peso has also helped offset the impact of the rising price of oil. But we must further cut our reliance on foreign oil. And so I want to take the opportunity to pay homage to some of our pioneers in energy independence. For instance, publicly-listed Chemrez is producing coco-biodiesel in Quezon City ,” the President said.
Chemrez's current biodiesel capacity is at 60,000 metric tons. The company is planning to increase its biodiesel production capacity by 50 percent to 90,000 mt by the middle of the year and has set aside a capital expenditure of $2 million for the expansion.
For its part, Chemrez thanked President Arroyo for her support to the emerging biofuels industry.
The publicly-listed firm noted that it currently has no problem with procuring enough coconut oil for its biodiesel plant which currently has more than adequate output to meet the demand for biodiesel at the current one percent blend mandated by law.
Chemrez also cited that the automotive industry, as represented by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. is supportive of the use of biofuels for as long as quality controls are strictly implemented.
The government is also looking at accelerating the implementation of the Biofuels Law as it is one of the recommendations raised by industry stakeholders during the Energy Summit.
“In the area of renewable and alternative energy, it was also recommended that the implementation of the Biofuels Law and the CNG (compressed natural gas) program be accelerated,” Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said.
