OKQ8 cancels rollout of Finnish biodiesel at Swedish pumps; cites opposition from Greenpeace

October 31, 2007

In Sweden, OKQ8 cancelled plans to sell Neste Oil biodiesel from Finland, bowing to pressure from Greenpeace over destruction of Malaysian rainforest to create the palm oil which is Neste’s primary feedstock.

Recently, the newly elected conservative Reinfeldt government of Sweden has pledged to spend nearly $100 million on the development of biofuels. The government has signed technology partnerships with the US and Brazil in recent months regarding biofuel development. Already in Sweden, there is a $1500 rebate on the purchase of a flex-fuel vehicle and 40,000 cars on the road (1% market share) are flex-fuel.

Recently in Sweden, ethanol taxes were abolished, and Scania has commenced increased exports of its biofuel-powered city buses.