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Feature
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Written by Mia Jarumayan
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Monday, 15 November 2010 10:10 |
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Page views: 4195 |
The Department of Energy (DOE), under the leadership of its new Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras, has been conducting public consultations on the bioethanol mandate which is set to increase from 5% to 10% by February 2011. The DOE, which also chairs the National Biofuels Board (NBB), has been holding the consultations to determine the extent of readiness and willingness of all stakeholders for the upcoming increase in the blend rate.
The Biofuels Act of 2006 (Republic Act 9367) mandates that starting 2009, the annual total volume of gasoline fuel sold and distributed by each and every oil company in the country should be comprised of 5% bioethanol. Come 2011, the NBB is tasked to recommend to DOE to mandate a minimum of 10% blend of bioethanol by volume into all gasoline fuel sold and distributed in the country by the oil companies. To date, oil companies have been complying with the 5% bioethanol mandate by selling E10 (gasoline with 10% bioethanol) in just 50% of their market. If the Biofuels Act is to be strictly implemented by 2011, E10 should be available in 100% of the market, across all gasoline fuel products.
Consultations have already been done in Metro Manila (held last October 13 at the Sugar Regulatory Adminstriation office), Luzon (October 20 in Tagaytay) and the Visayas (November 10 in Bacolod City). The last consultation will be held in Bukidnon, Mindanao this coming November 24, 2010.
www.biofuelshub.com has been attending the consultations. We will provide you with a summary of the discussions after the last consultation on November 24. We at www.biofuelshub.com are one with the DOE and the NBB in hoping and working for the country’s reduced dependence on imported fossil-fuel through the provision of cleaner, greener and more sustainable alternatives such as bioethanol.
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