[Biodiesel News] Poland tanking up on biodiesel

Poland tanking up on biodiesel

Warsaw Business Journal (subscription) - Poland

The oil industry and farmers alike are hailing a recently passed law that will soon allow for the sale of biodiesel composed entirely out of methyl esters, and ...

 

The government has given the green light to the sale of biofuels.

 

The oil industry and farmers alike are hailing a recently passed law that will soon allow for the sale of biodiesel composed entirely out of methyl esters, and for the sale of diesel oil 20-percent composed of esters. "This is a pioneer regulation," stressed Economy Minster Piotr Woźniak.

 

All but two EU countries allow the addition of only up to five percent of bio-components to both gasoline and diesel.

 

The oil industry has welcomed the new law. "The sector has waited for two years for this regulation. It's a good signal for the sector - it lays a foundation for the development of the market," stresses Tomasz Pańczyszyn from the National Biofuel Chamber.

 

PKN Orlen's spokesperson, Dawid Piekarz, says the company is planning to increase production of methyl esters in its Trzebinia refinery from 100,000 tonnes per year to 200,000 tonnes by 2008. Several other companies have been planning to launch the production of biodiesel, including Lotos, J&S energy and Elstar Oils. Pańczyszyn points out that some 20 companies already produce bioethanol in Poland.

 

Farmers would also be allowed to produce biodiesel, but would be banned from competing with energy companies. On September 9, President Lech Kaczyński signed the new biofuel act, according to which farmers are allowed to produce up to 100 liters of biofuel per hectare per year for their own use. "This is an important step forward, but respective measures need to be taken to make sure none of this biofuel is sold on the market," Pańczyszyn says.

 

Woźniak is hoping that all these regulations will mean the use of fewer fossil fuels. By 2010 the proportion of bio-components in transportation fuels should amount to 5.75 percent.

 

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Posted by Vince to Biodiesel News at 9/18/2006 11:38:00 AM