Biofuel: Key to cope with rising oil prices

In today’s economic crisis where soaring prices of basic commodities are eating up the shrinking disposable income of the market, biofuel is seen as an efficient alternative that could help save energy and fuel consumption.

Chemrez Technologies, Inc. consultant Michael P Bandalan said that compared to gasoline, biofuel is much more safer for the environment because of its components that could be derived from organic raw materials such as coconut husk, corn husk, sun flower seed and jatropha leaves.

He said that the government has been pushing for the wide use of biofuel as alternative to gasoline supported by a biofuel law that was enacted last year to encourage the use of biofuel in the country.

Bandalan said that most gasoline stations in the country are already distributing and selling biofuel which could be blended with gasoline made from fossil fuel.

Bandalan said that ethanol is also being pushed as alternative for diesel but this will be implemented for strict compliance after three years time because there is still no manufacturing plant for this kind of fuel here in the country.

As for biofuel, there are already a couple of local-based manufacturers but he said that there is still a lot to be done to really market the use of biofuel.

However, Bandalan shared that right now only a small portion of the population knows about the benefits of using biofuel and only a few know of its long term effects to the environment.

“Aside from being energy efficient, biofuel also helps lessen pollution because it has lesser emission than gasoline from fossil fuel,” he said.

He also said that right now, not all cars are compatible with biofuel although some car manufacturers are now creating hybrid cars that can work using biofuel blended with gasoline from fossil fuel.

“There is still apprehension from the car industry that is why not a lot of them have invested in creating units that will work with biofuel and ethanol but slowly some companies are adhering to the law because it will be implemented in few years time,” he said.

Bandalan urged motorists and future car buyers to purchase cars that are E-20 ready because this could work well with biofuel.

He said that in about three to four years time, the government will raise strict implementation of the biofuel law and those units that are not capable to run using biofuel will have to spend for engine modification that might range around P40, 000.

Bandalan said that other advantage of using biofuel will be the lesser importation of fossil fuel from oil producing countries whereby lowering the price of gasoline.

Biofuel are now sold in gasoline stations pegged at P90 per bottle and is already good to blend with one full tank of gasoline.

He said that using biofuel blended with gasoline from fossil fuel will save around 30 percent of fuel cost.

“The awareness level of the consumers is still very low that is why there is apprehension and there is still a small percentage of users. But if only they realize the benefits of using biofuel we wouldn’t be affected with soaring prices of oil. Biofuel lessens fuel consumption and cost while helping save the environment,” said Bandalan.