Bioverda, GAF Technology to launch 41 Mgy canola biodiesel plant in Germany

August 26, 2008

In Germany, Bioverda announced a 41 Mgy canola-based biodiesel plant in Thuringen, in a partnership with GAF Energy technology. Bioverda’s overall capacity from Thuringen and its Neubrandenberg plant will be 61 Mgy. Project cost iis 37 million euros.

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Malaysian biodiesel industry rebounds as crude palm oil prices tumble 35 percent; 15 percent drop forecast for 2009

August 25, 2008

In Malaysia, Aseambankers is forecasting the average crude palm oil price for FY08 and FY09 at $889 and $741 per tonne respectively, which should generate substantial increased activity in biodiesel production. CPO prices reached a high of more than $1100 per tonne earlier this year, causing the shutdown of most biodiesel production activity in the region. The price of crude palm oil is now at $805, down 35 percent from its all time high in March. According to AmResearch, the Malaysian government projects biodiesel exports to rise 50% to 143,000 tonnes for 2008.

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Nissan to enter Brazilian minivan, sedan market with ethanol-powered Livina

August 25, 2008

In Brazil, Nissan announced that it would be introducing ethanol-powered minivans and sedans into the Brazil market for the first time. Previously, the company had focused on SUVs and light trucks. The seven-passenger Grand Livina minivan and the five-passenger Livina are part of a series of vehicles targeted at emerging markets, and have been successfully introduced in Indonesia, South Africa and China prior to the Brazilian announcement. The Brazilian market entry will represent the first time the company has produced an ethanol-powreed version of the Livina engine.

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Spain’s Bionor acquiring waste oil collection companies to secure feedstock as production increases

August 25, 2008

In Spain, Bionor is now using up to 80,000 tonnes of used cooking oil, and said that it has acquired several oil collection companies to consolidate its feedstock supply. The company is producing 30,000 tonnes of biodiesel at its plant in Berantevilla in the Alava region. The company is owned by private investors and the public sectpr holds a 25 percent stake. The company sells Bionor MX 15-Via Oil at a network of 70 service stations.

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Kenyans turn to croton seed biodiesel to alleviate fuel shortage

August 22, 2008

In Kenya, fuel shortages in the Nyeri district have prompted residents to turn to croton seed biodiesel. The Help Self-Help Centre, a community development group operating under the Kenya Eco-energy project is manufacturing the biodiesel.

The one month old project aims at becoming the catalyst and source of relevant data on the production and use of biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuels in the Mt Kenya region. Croton oil is made from Croton tiglium, a tree found also in India and the Malay Archipelago.

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Indian energy ministry admits E10 mandate unlikely to take effect in October, as biofuels availability, capacity issues remain unsolved

August 22, 2008

In India, the national government is now acknowledging for the first time that it is unlikely to implement its 10 percent ethanol mandate in October. “There are lot of issues including availability. It is unlikely to be implemented by October. However, what is important is the direction in which the Government is making efforts,” Mr Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy told Business Line. The current mandate is for five percent. The 10 percent mandate was scheduled to take effect in all provinces except Jammu, Kashmir, and the northeast states. Rising sugar prices are in part responsible for the delay.

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Malaysia’s IJM Plantations invests $179 million to expand Indonesian oil palm cultivation

August 22, 2008

In Indonesia, Malaysia’s IJM Plantations will invest $179 mil in to expand its oil palm cultivation. The company said it has already spent $15 million on 33,000 hectares in East Kalimantan. The company said that it would commence planting in March.

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Next Generation Feedstocks and Markets webinar: date, time update

August 22, 2008

[Date and time update] On August 26th, 2008 BiofuelWebinars.com, Emerging Markets Online, and BEES will present a webinar titled Next Generation Feedstocks and Markets, in support of the Bioenergy World Americas 2008 conference in Salvador, Brazil.

This biofuels webinar will be presented by Will Thurmond, a columnist for Biofuels Digest and author of Biodiesel 2020, in support of the upcoming conference. The webinar, scheduled for 10am EDT, will cover global biodiesel market trends; biodiesel market trends; updates for US, EU, China, Brazil and India; updates on government biofuels targets, mandates, programs; feedstock trends (rapeseed, soy, palm oil, jatroha, algae, yellow grease, waste) as well as biocrude and bio-oil. Biodiesel market forecasts for 2010, 2015 and 2020 will be presented.

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Southridge contracts for 20 Mgy in ethanol sales for $48 million; ahead of schedule with El Salvador plant

August 21, 2008

In El Salvador, Southridge Enterprises said that it is ahead of schedule with construction on its new ethanol plant, and has signed a sales agreement for 20 Mgy of output with Jinsung Ho Trading Group for $48 million. Deliveries are to commence in December 2008 based on acquisition from Petrozilian Energia of Brazil.

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