Motorists await bio-diesel certification
Motorists await bio-diesel certification
With technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Renewable Energy Promotion Department is looking to set standards to establish confidence in the use of bio-diesel.
Laos has not yet adopted a standard when it comes to using bio-diesel within the country, despite the fact some foreign companies have already invested in Jatropha plantations to produce this kind of fuel.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines, working in cooperation with the KOLAO-Farm Bio-Energy, met with officials of relevant government organisations on Wednesday to promote the production of bio-diesel using jatropha oil in Laos.
Renewable Energy Promotion Department Director General, Mr Hatsady Sisoulath said that at the moment, many farmers and motorists are hesitant to use the fuel because they are concerned that this bio-diesel has no certifications from the liable organisations or the government.
To ensure the quality of bio-diesel produced utilising jatropha oil and other products, the government must set up a committee to oversee production, Mr Hatsady said. The proposed committee would be made up of the relevant ministries, overseen by the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Once quantified and established, the standard for bio-diesel will be certified by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Hatsady explained.
A reliable supply of raw material is the main concern when it comes to scaling up jatropha bio-diesel production. With many companies wishing to purchase land in Laos for various agricultural pursuits, there are concerns that in the future there will not be enough land to grow bio-diesel crops on a large enough scale.
However, the government intends to promote bio-diesel use in Laos, to reduce its dependence on fuel imports in the future and cater to future demand.
“The government plans to increase the rate of renewable energy usage, and in the future it will comprise 30 percent of all energy resources. We expect bio-diesel to supply 10 percent of that figure,” Mr Hatsady said.
KOLAO-Farm Bio-Energy began establishing jatropha plantations in 2006, by encouraging farmers to grow and harvest the plant. The company has a demonstration farm, where some of the jatropha is grown.
The company now encourages farmers to grow about 7,000 hectares of jatropha in total throughout the country, especially the northern provinces.
“We recently produced 300,000 litres of bio-diesel (known as B5), which is 95 percent diesel and five percent jatropha oil. This year we expect to produce 2 million litres of bio-diesel in total,” said KOLAO-Farm Bio-Energy Director, Mr Viengmaha Manisy.
Most bio-diesel products are sold to domestic companies engaged in farming enterprises, which use the fuel to power their tractors and other industrial equipment, he said.
In the past, private companies have grown different oil-yielding fruits to produce bio-diesel, including jatropha, oil palms and mak kau , he said.
“With industrial development and a growing population in Laos, the energy sector firmly believes that the country's fuel demand will increase in future years,” Mr Hatsady said.
“We require renewable energy production from various different sources including bio-gas, wind, solar and small-scale hydropower.”
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