Philippine jatropha biodiesel test batches have met US and European standards

In the Philippines, The Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) and Chemrez Technologies announced that test batches of jatropha biodiesel have met the major international standards used in the US and Europe.

The seeds were provided by PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation, the biofuels division of state-owned oil company PNOC. TUP was responsible for oil extraction, while Chemrez performed the esterization process that converts the oil to biodiesel.

The resulting product, in testing, met the specifications of both EN 14214 (Europe) and ASTM D6751 (US).

The Department of Agriculture recently said that as of last August, 38,000 hectares were being developed for biofuels, primarily in North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat provinces and Gen. Santos City. The Philippines have a B1 and E5 mandate scheduled to go into effect in 2009, rising to B2 and E10 in 2011. Philippine demand for biofuels is expected to rise to 187 million galls of ethanol and 54 gallons of biodiesel by 2011.

This year, eight Philippine companies have pledged more than $350 million towards biofuels production investment.

The companies include: Bio-Energy NL, Inc.; E-Cane/Pampanga Industrial Park Corp.; Philippine Agricultural Land Development and Mill, Inc (PALM, Inc.); and Zambo Norte Bioenergy; Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels Corp., Guidance Management Corp., Fuel, Inc. and Eastern Petroleum.

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