PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:06 PM by Luigi

Vanuatu Government vehicles to convert to biofuel from July 1

From Markus Streil, GTZ - Forestry Operations Specialist, SPC/GTZ Pacific-German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP)

From the start of this month, the Government of Vanuatu has begun converting all its vehicles to run on home grown bio-fuel. The change-over is being made in response to the soaring global cost of oil, and also to assist Vanuatu in meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Presenter/Interviewer: Paul Allen
Speakers: Joseph Kasten, Acting Director Ministry of Infrastructure

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1407362.htm

I just spoke to someone in Vanuatu familiar with this project and he said a private company is producing this 'bio-fuel' called 'B70'. It is a mix produced out of coconut oil (70%) and diesel.
They are using locally produced coconut oil (local copra price paid is like world market price) and it's sold for Vt 115/ltr. (Diesel Vt 127/ltr) on stations.

Found also on the Internet:

http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1431&lang=English - Coconut Crude in Vanuatu - about their R&D

http://www.spc.org.nc/preface/press%20releases/Copra/3%20Regional%20and%20National%20Context.pdf - regional seminar findings

http://jubileesouth.org/news/EpZlEElVuFZoLfUGou.shtml: One of such initiatives is the development of Biofuel by VAST (Vanuatu Sea Transport Limited. The biofuel is a 50/50 mixture of diesel which is the facilitator and coconut oil after, FFA's (Free Fatty Acids), water and glycerides have been extracted. VAST has invested nearly a million Australian dollars for its factory headquarters in Port Vila, and planned to purchase up to AUD$350,000 worth of coconuts. According to VAST (Trading Post, Feb 8, 2003), the benefits to Vanuatu are increased income to coconut farmers and oil producers giving a boost to the coconut industry. For government, there would be Value Added Tax collected on value added bio-fuel. For consumers and government departments there would be lower fuel bills. The use of a renewable energy source is also known to be kinder to the environment. Lastly, for every liter of coconut oil blended, is a litter of not imported, so the money remains in Vanuatu. Another initiative that is currently utilizing coconut oil is managed by Tony Deamer of Vila Motor Traders ... currently campaigning to convince Vanuatu motorists to top their fuel tanks with a mix of diesel and coconut oil, by running tests ... Another similar initiative by Coconut Oil Production Vanuatu Ltd. (COLP) opened in 2000 a $A6 million copra mill at Luganville, Santo. Its two expellers extract 1,200 tonnes of oil monthly from 2,000 tonnes of copra. COLP wishes to add to this investment in buying two more extra expellers (worth over $A8 million). The mill employs a hundred people. (Pacific Island Business, June 2000)



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, July 10, 2005 Posted 3:06 PM by Luigi Vanuatu Government vehicles to convert to biofuel from July 1 From Markus Streil, GTZ - Forestry Operations Specialist, SPC/GTZ Pacific-German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP) From the start of this month, the Government of Vanuatu has begun converting all its vehicles to run on home grown bio-fuel. The change-over is being made in response to the soaring global cost of oil, and also to assist Vanuatu in meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Presenter/Interviewer: Paul Allen Speakers: Joseph Kasten, Acting Director Ministry of Infrastructure http://www.abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s1407362.htm I just spoke to someone in Vanuatu familiar with this project and he said a private company is producing this 'bio-fuel' called 'B70'. It is a mix produced out of coconut oil (70%) and diesel. They are using locally produced coconut oil (local copra price paid is like world market price) and it's sold for Vt 115/ltr. (Diesel Vt 127/ltr) on stations. Found also on the Internet: http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1431&lang=English - Coconut Crude in Vanuatu - about their R&D http://www.spc.org.nc/preface/press%20releases/Copra/3%20Regional%20and%20National%20Context.pdf - regional seminar findings http://jubileesouth.org/news/EpZlEElVuFZoLfUGou.shtml: One of such initiatives is the development of Biofuel by VAST (Vanuatu Sea Transport Limited. The biofuel is a 50/50 mixture of diesel which is the facilitator and coconut oil after, FFA's (Free Fatty Acids), water and glycerides have been extracted. VAST has invested nearly a million Australian dollars for its factory headquarters in Port Vila, and planned to purchase up to AUD$350,000 worth of coconuts. According to VAST (Trading Post, Feb 8, 2003), the benefits to Vanuatu are increased income to coconut farmers and oil producers giving a boost to the coconut industry. For government, there would be Value Added Tax collected on value added bio-fuel. For consumers and government departments there would be lower fuel bills. The use of a renewable energy source is also known to be kinder to the environment. Lastly, for every liter of coconut oil blended, is a litter of not imported, so the money remains in Vanuatu. Another initiative that is currently utilizing coconut oil is managed by Tony Deamer of Vila Motor Traders ... currently campaigning to convince Vanuatu motorists to top their fuel tanks with a mix of diesel and coconut oil, by running tests ... Another similar initiative by Coconut Oil Production Vanuatu Ltd. (COLP) opened in 2000 a $A6 million copra mill at Luganville, Santo. Its two expellers extract 1,200 tonnes of oil monthly from 2,000 tonnes of copra. COLP wishes to add to this investment in buying two more extra expellers (worth over $A8 million). The mill employs a hundred people. 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