According to TuK Indonesia, an NGO advocate for environmental justice, the estimated total wealth of the top 27 families in the palm oil industry at more than $88 billion -- roughly 8 pct of the country's GDP .
Among the top producers, Wilmar International, which produces 2.3 million kiloliters per year of palm oil biodiesel,
is the major recipient of Indonesian government subsidies to the palm oil industry. Wilmar scored 55 pct of the total $530 million from the BPDP-KS distributed to five palm oil companies in 2017.
(Source: Various Media, Mongabay, 1 July, 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil news, Biodiesel.Indonesia Palm Oil news,
The delay is being attributed to disruptions in world fuel demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
(Source: Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs Indonesia, The Star, 9 May, 2020) Contact:
Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs Indonesia, www.developmentaid.org/#!/donors/view/143865/coordinating-ministry-for-economic-affairs-indonesia
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, B40, B30, Indonesia Palm oil, Biodiesel, Biofuel Blend,
The Malaysian B20 mandate was first rolled out in January and was scheduled to be totally carried out throughout the nation by mid-June 2021.
(Source: Malaysian Biodiesel Association, Global News Hut, 16 April, 2020)
Contact: Malaysian Biodiesel Association, www.mybiodiesel.org.my; Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, www.mpob.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Malaysian Palm Oil Board, B20, Biodiesel, Palm Oil,
In 2019, China imported a total 6 million tons of palm oil from Indonesia, representing 16.5 pct of Indonesia's overall palm oil exports during the year.
Outside of CPO, palm oil kernel (PKO) and palm oil-based biodiesel exports also declined while palm oil oleochemicals exports rose by 22.9 pct, according to GAPKI data.
Despite the export slowdown, domestic palm oil consumption increased slightly to 1.47 million tons in January from 1.45 million tons in December 2019, in line with the government's
mandatory upping of the biodiesel blend rate to B30 in Jan this year -- rising to B50 by the year end.
(Source: Palm Oil Producers Association, Jakarta Post, 30 Mar., 2020) Contact: Palm Oil Producers Association, www.gapki.id;
Indonesian Biodiesel Producers Association, +62 2129380882, office@aprobi.co.id, www.aprobi.or.id
More Low-Carbon Energy News Indonesian Biodiesel Producers Association , Biodiesel, B30, B40, B50, Palm Oil,
"Although CPO prices have also fallen, the price spread of CPO to gas oil to date is $140 US on average, which indicates the government must step in and offer a subsidy to make CPO blending into biodiesel an attractive option.
The low CPO benchmark is expected to drag palm futures in the first half of 2020 as lower exports and continued restriction of refined palm oil products by India weigh on the commodity.
(Source: Palm Oil Analytics, Malaysian Reserve, 10 Mar., 2020)
Contact: Palm Oil Analytics, www.palmoilanalytics.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blend, Palm Oil,
The mandatory B30 program came into force Jan. 1, this year. Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer and exporter, is recorded as the first country to implement the B30 mixed-fuel in the world.
(Source: Indonesia Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, antaranews.com, 5 Mar., 2020) Contact: Indonesia Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,
Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister, +136 0 21 3804242, +136 0 21 3507210 - fax,
klik@esdm.go.id, www.esdm.go.id/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Indoneasia Biodiesel, B20, B30, Palm Oil, Palm Biodiesel,
FPT Industrial's research was conducted at the Technical Center in Betim, Southeast of Brazil, with the main focus on its application as a fuel for agricultural tractors. Tests for trucks and buses, as well as power generators, are planned for the future. The tests produced biodiesel that met the standards established by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).
The testing project was carried out in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and Bchem Biofuels, using a FPT Industrial N67 Tier 3 engine fitted to Case IH and New Holland Agriculture tractors. During the tests, mixtures of 10 pct and 20 pct of Macauba biodiesel were used. The results showed performance and consumption comparable to Brazilian commercial diesel, with a reduction trend in terms of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) emissions. (Source: FPT, CNH Industrial, PR Mar.,2020) Contact: FPT CNH Industrial, www.fptindustrial.com/global/en, www.cnhindustrial.com/en-us/Pages/homepage.aspx
More Low-Carbon Energy News FPT Industrial, Palm Oil, Palm Biodiesel,
The B20 initiative kicked off in Langkawi and Labuan last month and will be expanded to Sarawak (April), Sabah (August) and Peninsular Malaysia (June 2021).
Malaysia introduced the B10 and B7 biodiesel programmes in the transportation and industrial sector last year.
In total, these two programmes will use 1.3 million tonnes of palm oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 tpy. (Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Board,The Edge Markets, FMT , 20 Feb., 2020) Contact: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, www.mpob.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Malaysian Palm Oil Board, B20, Biodiesel, Palm Oil,
Combined, Indonesia and Malaysia have over 1,000 palm oil mills that produce almost 90 percent of global palm oil supply. This results in the generation of around 126 million tonnes of POME yearly. The demand for biogas has grown because of the need to shift to more renewable sources of energy and to increase electricity penetration within the ASEAN region.Indonesia has set a bioenergy capacity target of 810 MW by 2025, Thailand's goal is 5,570 MW by 2036 and Malaysia aims to achieve 1,065 MW this year.
The ASEAN nations -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam -- have a combined population of population of 650 million and a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion.
(Source: ASEAN Post, 13 Feb., 2020) Contact:
ASEAN Centre for Energy, +62 21 527 9332,
+62 21 527 9350 - fax, secretariat@aseanenergy.org, www.aseanenergy.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas, ASEAN,
The release also noted consumption of B10 and B20 supports the Thai palm oil industry which is expected to invest $1.64 billion this year to improve the quality standard of their products from Euro 4 to Euro 5.
Thia palm oil consumption in 2020 is expected to increase by 2 pct from last year to 132 million lpd, the release added.
(Source: Thailand Ministry of Energy, Xinhua, 21 Jan., 2020) Contact: Thailand Ministry of Energy, weben.dede.go.th
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Thailand Biodiesel, Biodiesel,
As the EU's second largest biodiesel producer, more than half of all palm oil and derivatives imported into Italy in 2018 was used for biodiesel production. (Source: Italian Competition and Market Authority, Biofuels Int'l., 20 Jan. 2020)
Contact: Eni S.p.A., www.eni.com/en_IT/home.page
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Eni, Biodiesel, Green Diesel,
In 2019
Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, increased the mandatory bio-content of its biodiesel programme to 30 pct (B30) in a move to cut the country's energy imports and increase palm oil consumption.
The ministry plans to run road tests for the B40 programme in April and launch the program in 2021-22.
(Source: Successful Farming, Reuters, Jan., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel, B10, B20, B30,
The update from B-20 to B-30 was originally slated for Jan., 2020 with the aim of raising the blend rate to B-50 at the earliest possible date.
Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer.
(Source: Pertamina, Jakarta Globe, 23 Dec., 2019)
Contact: Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, VP Communications, 1-500-000, pcc@pertamina.com, www.pertamina.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Pertamina, Palm Oil, Palm Oil Biofuel, B-20, B-30,
Palm oil palm is part of the company's sustainability plan to largely use use jet biofuels to reduce carbon emission, according to the company release. To that end, the company has reportedly
signed forward purchase agreements for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) totaling roughly $6 billion.
(Source: AirAsia Group, PR, New Strait Times, 19 Dec., 2019) Contact: AirAsia,Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Founder & CEO, www.airasia.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News AirAsia Group, Palm Oil, Biofuel, Aviation Biofuel ,
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome with operations in 79 countries, and is currently world's 11th largest industrial company with a market capitalization of €68 billion euros, as of August 14, 2013, according to Wikipedia. (Source: Eni, Biofuels Int'l, Dec., 2019) Contact: SNDP,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entreprise_Tunisienne_d%27Activites_Petroliere; Eni, www.eni.com/en_IT/home.page
More Low-Carbon Energy News Eni, Biofuel, Castor, Palm Oil,
Indonesia, the world's major palm oil producer, currently uses biodiesel made from fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from palm oil, which is blended with fossil fuel.
Green diesel can be made by refining fossil crude oil and palm derivatives together in a single process, or refining palm oil in dedicated refineries. (Source: Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Reuters, Dec., 2019) Contact:Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Energy_and_Mineral_Resources_(Indonesia)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Green Diesel, Biodiesel,
The ministry expects the energy sector to help absorb two thirds of the national production of crude palm oil (CPO), or at 2.2 million tpy and help the country save on oil imports by 1.8 million lpd. (Source: Thailand Ministry of Energy, Pattaya Mail, 26 Nov., 2019) Contact: Thailand Ministry of Energy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Energy_(Thailand), www.energy.go.th/2015/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News B10, Biodiesel, Palm Oil Biodiesel,
The Indonesian initiative was reportedly well received since Mexico is investigating the development of oil palm cultivation, the development of oil palm biofuel and a possible B-20 or B-30 program. Mexico is also eager to explore cooperation in developing biodiesel-based products such as castor oil and jatropha that can be grown on marginal land. (Source: Various Media, Antara News, 26 Nov., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Palm Oil Biofuel, B-20, B-30,
Initially, 670,000 kiloliters of B30 fuel will be produced and distributed
(Source: Pertamina, Tempo.co, 25 Nov., 2019) Contact: Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, VP Communications, 1-500-000
pcc@pertamina.com, www.pertamina.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Pertamina, Palm Oil, B30, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blend ,
According to the statement, only 12 pct of the country's refineries produce bio-fuel and the industry is seeking domestic and foreign investors to build more refineries and expand production especially in regions close to oil palm plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Separately, Indonesia's 30 pct biodiesel - petroleum blend policy will come into force in Jan. 2020, and will increase domestic palm oil consumption by roughly 3 million tpy. (Source: Indonesian National Energy Committee , VNA, 7 Nov., 2019) Contact: Indonesian National Energy Committee , +622 152921,
www.den.go.id/index.php
More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Biofuel, Palm Oil, Green Fuel, Indonesia Palm Oil, Biofuel,
The move also presents the country with a respite from its planned phase-out of palm oil biofuel in the European Union, its second-biggest export market, and a likely increase in duties by India, its top export customer.
To meet the expected Chinese market demand, Indonesian producers will increase yields through better technology and seeds, rather than more deforestation for palm cultivation. Currently there are 162,000 square-kilometers of palm oil plantations across Indonesia.
As previously reported, the European Commission passed a measure in March to phase out palm oil-based biofuels by 2030, over environmental degradation concerns that palm production, often on land cleared of rainforest, contributes to global carbon emissions and thus exacerbates climate change.
The Rainforest Foundation Norway estimates an area larger than the Netherlands might be destroyed to make way for oil palm plantations to feed biofuel demand through 2030. This, it warns, would result in the release of 7 billion tons of CO2 emissions over the next 20 years. (Source: Indonesian Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mongabay, 28 Oct., 2019) Contact: Indonesian Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, www.devex.com/organizations/coordinating-ministry-for-economic-affairs-indonesia-132480
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel, Biofuel,
As previously reported, the European Commission ruled palm oil is not a "green" fuel and should not be promoted because it causes deforestation. The use of palm oil in diesel in the EU will be gradually reduced as of 2023 and should reach zero in 2030.
The EU is the world's second largest importer of crude palm oil. In 2018 more than half of all palm imports were used to make biodiesel transportation fuels.
(Source: European Commission, Green Car Congress, Oct., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
The Primary Industries Ministry is seeking roughly RM6 million ($1,453,000 US) in the upcoming budget to support the biojet fuel project. Potential project collaborators include Chinese, U.S. and Japanese firms.
"The funding will be used for the initial setup to produce biojet fuel on a small scale and we will work from there on how to expand into commercial production.
The project will also test the sustainability of using other renewable sources such as biomass in producing aviation biofuel," according to the release. (Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, PR, 23 Sept., 2019) Contact: Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, www.mpob.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Malaysian Palm Oil Board , Palm Oil, Biofuel, Aviation Biofuel,
The vehicle’s petroleum diesel engines will not be modified in any way to accommodate biodiesel fuel. The vehicles used for the project will be monitored in terms of their movements, fuel consumption of B20 and their maintenance costs. The B20 trial is intended to prove that using B20 will not affect vehicle engines.
Malaysia implemented B10 for its transportation sector beginning February and B7 for industrial sector in June this year in effort to reduce greenhouse gas emission released by diesel vehicles and to support the Palm oil industry. (Source: MPOB, New Strait Times, 12 Sept., 2019)Contact: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, www.mpob.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel, Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
The higher blend of palm oil- biodiesel blend is intended to address the problem of high energy imports and slowing global demand for palm by increasing domestic consumption of the vegetable oil.
(Source: Indonesia Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Hellenic Shipping News, 14 Aug., 2019) Contact: Indonesia Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, www.esdm.go.id/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News B30, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blend, Palm Oil,
The government had allocated 6.20 million kiloliters B20 -- 44 pct of the total quota of diesel imports, the Ministry stated.
The Indonesian government mandated B20 in 2016 in response to a drastic global fall in crude palm oil prices. The mandate was also intended to
reduce the country's dependence on imported diesel fuel.(Source: Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, tempo.co, 13 Aug., 2019) Contact: Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, www.esdm.go.id/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel, Indonesia Biodiesel, B20,
The Southeast Asian country is the world's second largest palm oil producer after Indonesia and would be hit hard by the EU's plan to cut its use in biofuels by 2030.
In March, the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned the EU attempt to curb palm oil in biofuels "risks opening up a trade war with Malaysia."
(Source: Gov. of Malaysia, Al Arabiya, Others, AFP, 16 July, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Malaysian Palm Oil,
Indonesia is the world's leading palm oil exporter and consumer at an estimated 2.89 million kl of un-blended biodiesel in H1 2019. (Source: Indonesian Energy Ministry, Successful Farming, Reuters, 15 July, 2019)
Contact: Indonesian Energy Ministry, www.esdm.go.id/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Indonesian, Biodiesl, Biodiesel Blend,
Under the deal crops and ethanol produced in MERCOSUR member countries -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay -- could be used to meet the EU's green transport fuel targets. The agreement also allows for a lower tariff rate on ethanol imports to be phased in over five years: a quota of 200,000 tonnes with an in-quota rate of one-third of the current high duty of up to €19/hectolitre will be opened for fuel and other uses beyond the chemical industry, according to a EC briefing. The agreement also reduces or eliminates duties that MERCOSUR currently imposes on exports of soybean products to the EU, the Commission said. This could make soy a more attractive feedstock for biodiesel producers in Europe.
Argentine soy diesel, imports of refined biodiesel tripled from 2017 to 2018, with palm oil and soy accounting for around 86 pct of all biodiesel imports.
(Source: EU EC, Transport & Environment, 11 July, 2019) Contact: MERCOSUR,
www.mercosur.int/en/about-mercosur/mercosur-countries
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel, Biodiesel, Soy Biodiesel, Palm Oil,
Launched in 2015, the Mede biorefinery can produce 500,000 tpy of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a premium biofuel, as well as biodiesel and biojet fuel for the aviation industry. The facility was specifically designed to process all types of oil. Its biofuels will be made: 60 to 70 pct from 100 pct sustainable vegetable oils (rapeseed, palm, sunflower, etc.), and 30 to 40 pct from treated waste (animal fats, cooking oil, residues, etc.).
As part of May, 2018 agreement with the French Government, Total has pledged to process no more than 300,000 tpy of palm oil -- less than 50 pct of the total volume of raw materials needed -- and at least 50,000 tpy of French-grown rapeseed, creating another market for domestic agriculture. All the oils processed will be certified sustainable to European Union standards.
Total is also examining different biomass conversion pathways, such as thermochemical, biotechnology and algae, and is
working in its own laboratories and via R&D partnerships with manufacturers, start-ups, universities and private laboratories, including BioTfueL, Novogy and Renmatix.
(Source: Total Website, PR, 3 July, 2018) Contact: Total, Investor Relations: +44 (0 )207 719 7962 l, ir@total.com, www.total.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Total, Biofuel, Biodiesel, Palm Oil,
The increase is seen as an effort by the world's top palm oil exporter to increase the domestic demand for palm oil.
It is hoped the move will increase consumption of bio-content made from palm oil from an estimated 6.2 KL in 2019 to as much as 9 million kilolitres (KL) per year. (Source: Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Reuters, June, 2019)
Contact: Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, www.esdm.go.id/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News B30, Palm Oil Biodiesel, Biodiese Blends,
TOTAL has committed to use less than 300,000 tonnes of crude palm oil per year at La Mede out of a total of 650,000 tonnes of feed stocks which could include oils from other plants, recycled animal fat, cooking oil and industrial oil. (Source: TOTAL, Indian Economic Times, May, 2019) Contact: TOTAL, Patrick Pouyanne, CEO, www.total.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL, Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
Beijing TUS-Deqing Bioenergy is a subsidiary of TUS Clean Energy, a commercial arm of Tsinghua University. Beijing TUS-Deqing Bioenergy plans to invest in a project to modify an existing biodiesel plant in Malaysia using its enzymatic technology.
.
Malaysia has implemented a domestic 10 pct palm biodiesel and 90 pct petrol diesel (B10) program in its national transportation sector. (Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, The Star, 28 May, 2019) Contact: Tsinghua University, www.tsinghua.edu.cn; Beijing TUS-Deqing Bioenergy, en.tusholdings.com/index.php/59682c1b03b?zid=3;
Malaysian Palm Oil Board, www.mpob.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel, Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
The minister noted that while there had been opposition to the current practices of planting oil palm, the market is strong and "Malaysia is equipped with the necessary infrastructure and market size to improve the quality and production of palm-based energy products." He also noted agencies such as the Malaysia Palm Oil Board, Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute and SIRIM Bhd had the technological capabilities necessary to make make palm oil biodiesel a "leading biofuel contender."
Malaysia introduced B10 biodiesel to the domestic transportation market in December 2018, increasing its blend from seven per cent (B7 Biodiesel) to 10 per cent. The government plans to introduce B20 biodiesel by 2020.
(Source: Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malay Mail, 24 May., 2019)Contact: Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Darell Leiking, www.miti.gov.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
In other Neste news, the effectiveness of Neste MY Renewable Jet Fuel in reducing black carbon emissions has been recognized in a competition organized by the Climate Leadership Coalition, the Bioenergy Association of Finland, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Finnish Environment Institute, and the Central Association of Chimney Sweeps. According to NASA, renewable fuel has the potential to cut particulate emissions by up to 70 pct from aircraft engines.
(Source: Neste, Baltic News Network, May, 2019)
Contact: Neste, +358 10 458 4128, www.neste.com; Bioenergy Association of Finland, www.bioenergia.fi/English
More Low-Carbon Energy News Neste, Renewable Diesel, Alternative Fuel, Biodiesel,
In the face of EU palm oil environmental concerns, Indonesia has been working to make its palm oil-based fuel more environmentally-friendly after the EU and other countries called for a "cleaner" Indonesian biodiesel.
Indonesia's B20 biofuel-biodiesel blend rate is expected to be raised to B30. According to Agra-Net, Indonesia exported 52,356 tonnes of palm oil biodiesel in February, 2019
Domestic markets have also shown increased consumption of biofuel during the first quarter of 2019. Reuters notes Indonesians consumed 1.5 million kl in Q1, this year.
(Source: APROBI
Business Times, 3 May, 2019) Contact: APROBI, +62 2129380882, office@aprobi.co.id, www.aprobi.or.id
More Low-Carbon Energy News Indonesia, Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
According to the release, "Malaysia has argued that the law discriminates against biofuels and bioliquids produced from palm oil and other oil crops. There is also significant lack of scientific data and reliable information used in the Delegated Regulation which classifies palm oil production as a high Indirect Land Use Change risk biofuel feedstock."
"Malaysia urges the European Union to provide equitable treatment across all oil crop biofuels and bioliquids in line with the World Trade Organization non-discriminative principles. Malaysia will continue to overcome disruptive and discriminatory practices on suppressing the palm oil trade," the release added. (Source: Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, Bernama, Sun Daily, 6 April, 2019) Contact: Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, www.cpopc.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel, Biochemical, Palm Oil, Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries ,
The EC concluded that 45 percent of the expansion of palm oil production since 2008 led to destruction of forests, wetlands or peatlands and resultant greenhouse gas releases.
The EC has added a number of exemptions which mean some palm oil could still be promoted as a green fuel, under certain conditions including allowing additional palm oil production coming from yield increases or produced on unused land to still qualify as green.
Although once seen as the main tool by which the EU could decarbonize road transport, and given generous subsidies under the 28-member trading bloc's Renewable Energy Directive over a decade ago,
many environmentalists are reportedly pushing the EU to ban crop-based biofuels and move instead to incentivizing second-generation, cellulosic biofuels.
(Source: EU, European Biodiesel Board, Successful Farning, Forbes, 14 Mar., 2019) Contact: European Biodiesel Board, www.ebb-eu.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission, Palm Oil, Biodiesel, European Biodiesel Board,
Malaysia's palm oil inventory dropped 6.7 pct to 3 million tons in January from a month earlier and palm oil exports surged 21.2 pct to 1.68 million tons in January, 2019.
Malaysia's neighbor Indonesia introduced B20 -- a blend of 20 pct palm oil and 80 pct fossil fuel -- to its transport sector in 2016.
(Source: Malaysian Ministry of Plantations, Nikkei, 12 Feb., 2019)Contact: Malaysian Ministry of Plantations, www.mpoc.org.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Malaysia Palm Oil, B10, B20, Palm Oil, Biofuel, B7,
The draft details curbing any biofuels with a high ILUC-risk and its amount of consumption in 2019 within the Member States. The EU also outlined an ambitious goal of reducing any high-risk biofuel's contribution to 0 pct by 2030.
"Directive (EU) 2018/2001 also calls for a specific limit to conventional biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels with high ILUC-risk and for which a significant expansion of the production area into land with high carbon stock is observed, in the amount of their level of consumption in each Member State in 2019," the draft stated. "Starting from 31 December 2023, their contribution should be gradually reduced to 0 pct by 2030 at the latest."
Despite the draft's promising changes to the uses of palm oil, ePure argues that the draft would still 'allow imported feedstock that violates spirit of RED II agreement.'
"Making an exception for feedstock produced by smallholders isn't just allowing high-ILUC-risk biofuels such as palm oil into Europe through the back door, it's allowing it through the front door. The hard-won compromise reached on RED II couldn't have been clearer in its message that Europe should phase out biofuels associated with the significant deforestation and peatland drainage that has defined most palm oil expansion."
"Low-ILUC-risk biofuels certified as such could escape from the phase-out, but these were clearly defined as either produced through improved agricultural practices or from unused land. By inventing a third, alternative criterion for smallholders, the Commission is making a mockery of the agreed RED II compromise," Desplechin claims.
(Source: ePURE, Feb., 2019) Contact: ePURE Emmanuel Desplechin, Sec. Gen., +32 2 657 6679, info@epure.org, www.epure.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News ePure, Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
"Making an exception for feedstock produced by smallholders isn't just allowing high-ILUC-risk biofuels such as palm oil into Europe through the back door, it's allowing it through the front door," said Emmanuel Desplechin, Secretary General of ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association. "The hard-won compromise reached on RED II couldn't have been clearer in its message that Europe should phase out biofuels associated with the significant deforestation and peatland drainage that has defined most palm oil expansion."
"Low-ILUC-risk biofuels certified as such could escape from the phase-out, but these were clearly defined as either produced through improved agricultural practices or from unused land. By inventing a third, alternative criterion for smallholders, the EC is making a mockery of the agreed RED II compromise," the ePure Secretary General added.
European renewable ethanol is made from European feedstock and delivers high greenhouse-gas reduction and is not associated with deforestation. Its use cuts GHG emissions by more than 70 pct on average compared to fossil petrol. (Source: ePure, EC, Feb., 2019)
Contact: European Renewable Ethanol Assoc. (ePURE), Emmanuel Desplechin, Sec. Gen., +32 2 657 6679, info@epure.org, www.epure.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel , ePure, Biofuel,
The fund, which invests the revenues of Norway's oil and gas production, has also developed in-house software that uses non-financial data, such as CO2 emissions, and trading and earnings data to project future company performance. In 2018, the new software reportedly helped 30 companies complete informed divestments Two of the 30 divested companies were involved in palm oil; one in rubber; ten in coal-based power; and one in "CO2 intensity".
In 2018, the Norwegian fund emitted 107 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents via its ownership stakes -- roughly twice the amount emitted by Norway in 2017 -- according to the fund's recently release annual report. (Source: Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, Reuters, euronews, Feb., 2019)Contact: Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, Yngve Slyngstad,
CEO,www.nbim.no
When the plants are in their final stages of maturation, their fruit will be harvested in order to evaluate the yield in oil per ton and to define an extended cultivation plan.
(Source: ANSA Med, 16 Jan., 2019) Contact: ENI Bio,
+39 06 598 22030,
Fax: +39 06 598 25488, ufficio.stampa@eni.com,
www.eni.com/en_IT/home.page
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel, Castor Oil, Oil Seed,
The increase from 10 pct to 20 pct is intended to reduce high domestic stockpiles and boost sustainable energy sources.
Source: Primary Industries Ministry, Malay Mail, Jan., 2019)
Contact: Primary Industries Ministry, Teresa Kok, Minister, www.revolvy.com/page/Ministry-of-Primary-Industries-%28Malaysia%29
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel,
In 2018, TOTAL won government approval for the use of palm oil at its former crude oil refinery at La Mede, which it is converting into a biofuel production site.
In December, 2018, French lawmakers voted to remove palm oil from the country's biofuel scheme as of 2020, following longstanding controversy swirling about the environmental and climate change related impact of palm oil which is produced primarily in Asia.
TOTAL previously pledged that palm oil would account for less than half of raw material used, with French rapeseed crops and recycled oil also being used.
Editor's note; See the following Jakarta-based Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries previously published response to French and EU palm oil -- climate change concerns.
(Source: TOTAL, Star online, 12 Jan., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News TOTAL, Palm Oil, Biofuel,
Palm oil is one of, if not the largest revenue earners for the country, and is key to Malaysia' Biodiesel B10 programme, which kicked off on Dec 1, 2018.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board is conducting research to determine the percentage of domestic palm oil consumption and the segments and sectors that have yet to utilize palm oil as a raw material.
The Malaysian Biodiesel Association notes that the country's palm oil biodiesel production is likely to hit record levels this year and next, with 2018 exports expected to double from 2017, due to higher oil prices.
Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil, which can be used as feedstock to make the bio components of biodiesel. According to the Malaysian Biodiesel Association, Malaysian biodiesel production could hit 900,000 tonnes and exports 475,000 tonnes if the current price differential between crude palm oil and gasoil remains at current levels.
(Source: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, SunDaily, 1 Jan., 2019) Contact: Malaysian Palm Oil Board, www.mpob.gov.my; Malaysian Biodiesel Association, www.mybiodiesel.org.my
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Biofuel, Biodiesel ,
Norwegian palm oil consumption reached an all-time high in 2017 when fully 10 pct of the country's diesel consumption was based out of palm oil.
(Source: Good News Network, 12 Dec., 2018)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil, Biodiesel, Biofuel,