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The
government has finally ratified in January 2007 the Biofuels Act
of 2006 (RA 9367) – a very timely development considering
the precarious and volatile situation in the Middle East.
The enactment
of the law signals the full support of the government in the search
for alternative energy and has triggered the interest of the private
sector.
The law requires
a 1% minimum by volume biodiesel blend (to increase to 2% within
two years of the Act) with diesel engine fuels. Considering this,
the country would require 78 million liters of biodiesel starting
this year and 161 million liters in 2009.
Meanwhile, the
law requires a 5% blend of bioethanol with gasoline fuel. The gasoline
fuel should contain a minimum of 10 percent blend of bioethanol
within four years after the approval of the Act. This would entail
a minimum annual domestic requirement of 269 million litters of
bioethanol in 2009 and 594 million liters in 2011.
Possible feedstocks
that can be produced locally are coconut, jatropha, peanut and oil
palm for biodiesel; and sugarcane, cassava, sweet potato, corn and
sweet sorghum for bioethanol.
Among others,
sweet sorghum requires more R&D support as this crop has a good
potential as feedstock for ethanol production. Unlike sugarcane
and cassava, sweet sorghum would primarily support bioethanol production
possibly without displacing or affecting established industries.
Various agencies
have pursued initiatives on sweet sorghum for bioethanol production
prior to the approval of the Act. In November 2005, PCARRD and the
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
(ICRISAT) officially launched their sweet sorghum project for ethanol
production. There are ongoing adaptation trials of introduced sweet
sorghum varieties from India in Central Luzon and Ilocos Norte.
In mid-2006,
PCARRD-DOST packaged an integrated sweet sorghum program, which
includes varietal improvement, performance trials of promising varieties
in selected regions, cultural management practices, and integrated
pest management strategies, capability building and processing of
sweet sorghum into bioethanol.
The agricultural
components of the program will primarily support the National Biofuels
Program. Leading state universities, research institutions and government
agencies will implement the program under the coordination of PCARRD.
Funded by DOST
and PCARRD with a total approved budget of P12.76 M for 3 years,
the program on sweet sorghum production is expected to significantly
contribute to the creation of employment, potential improvement
in farmers’ income, enhanced energy independence, and a healthy
environment. (Juanito T. Batalon, S & T Media Service)
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