Saturday, February 10, 2007
Public to enjoy low-cost fuel
By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
ALTERNATIVE environment-friendly fuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel and autogas, which are equally priced to that of petroleum and gasoline, will be made available nationwide very soon.
This is why the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP) launched Thursday its 30-seconder Alternative Fuels Cinema Advertisement nationwide. The launching was the first in Western Visayas.
The Cinema ad convinces that patronizing biofuels could help in creating more employment opportunities in the agriculture and industrial sectors by patronizing biofuels.
Bioethanol, ethyl alcohol, or grain alcohol could be produced from crops like sugarcane, corn, and cassava, among others.
E10 or 90 percent gasoline blended with 10 percent bioethanol is now available in some fuel stations nationwide.
Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Mario Marasigan said that E10 is offered at a competitive price compared to other gasoline fuel grades.
Presently, bioethanol fuel blended with gasoline is imported but with the passage of the Biofuels Act of 2006, it is expected that the Philippines could produce and meet the demand for the minimum mandated blend of five percent and 10 percent within the next two and four years, respectively.
The DOE also said vehicles that are compatible with the use of E10 are widely available.
However, if one wishes to determine if his vehicle can run on bioethanol, he is advised to check with his car manufacturer or dealer.
Another biofuel is called the biodiesel, a renewable and biodegradable diesel fuel extracted from plant oil. This type of fuel is commonly used on the United States, Canada, and Thailand.
Biodiesel is a natural hydrocarbon with negligible sulphur content that will substantially help in reducing emissions from diesel-fed engines.
Coco-biodiesel or Coconut Methyl Ester (CME) was launched recently in the country for use. It is derived from coconut oil whose carbon chain offers excellent lubricity--protects engine from wear, detergency--cleans fuel system, and solvency--dissolves and cleans combustion chamber from carbon deposits.
It was mandated in the Biofuels Act of 2006 that only one percent, though it could reach up to five percent of biodiesel, be blended into all diesel engine fuels sold in the country, within three months from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's signing of the law in January.
Coco-biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or fuel system.
The use of coco-biodiesel will benefit 3.5 million coconut farmers and 20 million Filipinos dependent on the coconut industry.
Autogas or fuel acquired from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is used by more than 4,000 taxi units nationwide, has the cheapest cost and utilization of which could tone down the cost of fare.
In two years time, all the biofuels could be available in fuel stations nationwide after bioethanol and biodiesel plants could be put up.
Meanwhile, pre-blended biodiesel or one percent coco-biodiesel and 99 percent gasoline could be bought in Flying V and Seaoil.
Alternative Fuels Cinema Ad is contracted with SM City Cinemas.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (February 9, 2007 issue)
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