In South Africa, if Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland ratify the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiated between the countries and the European Union, South Africa will have a duty-free export quota to the EU of 80,000 metric tons of ethanol per year, in addition to other concessions.
In Washington, ABO has announced several successes in its Summer of Algae 2014 push. Sapphire Energy has announced a partnership with Sinopec in China to develop algae-derived fuels in one of the world’s fastest growing economies. This international announcement came on the heels of new from two more ABO members: Cellana inked a partnership with […]
In Washington, the American Petroleum Institute is pushing for legislative changes to the RFS but understanding that will be difficult with upcoming elections, is instead focusing its pressure on the EPA. The API gathered anti-RFS groups from chicken producers to the American Motorcyclist Association to gather the various arguments to help support their engagement with […]
In Brazil, the provisional increase of the biodiesel blend to 6% has been extended for another 60 days. The blend was raised in July to 6% and is expected to rise to 7% in November.
In Iowa, Governor Terry Branstad slammed the EPA during his weekly press conference for having failed to announce the 2014 RFS, missing yet another deadline at the end of June. He says that as a result of the indecision, corn prices have fallen to below $4 a bushel—below the cost of production—from $5.50.
In India, the new cabinet is expected to make a decision soon on boosting the ethanol blend to 10% from the current 5%. During the next parliament, the transport minister says legislation will be introduced to boost the availability of vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
In Washington, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, has released the following statement in response to data which disproves the food vs. fuel debate: “Time and again Big Oil, Big Food and special interests have attacked the ethanol industry, blaming them for increasing food prices, but when you look at the facts, nothing could be […]
In Washington, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said that a new report on anti-competitive practices by oil companies to block biofuels underscores the need for action to protect consumers. The report from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) found that unbranded or independent stations are roughly four to six times more likely […]
In Indonesia, consultations between biodiesel producers and the European Union could come as early as July in order to avoid a lengthy case in the EU’s Court of Justice regarding anti-dumping levies placed on Indonesian biodiesel imports.
In the Philippines, the government may suspend the country’s biofuels law that requires power plants to blend with 2% biodiesel to protect the efficiency of the 1,200MW Ilijan natural gas plant in Batangas. Apparently the facility will produce just 480MW of 600MW installed capacity on the one side if it begins using 2% coconut-based biodiesel […]
