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Scientists seek co-operation in biofuel development
Scientists from Viet Nam, Indonesia, India and South Korea discussed co-operation opportunities in developing replaceable energy and biofuels at a workshop in HCM City yesterday.
New technologies on renewable energy, as well as biofuel policies of each country were introduced at the international workshop.
Participants noted that the event demonstrated the four Asian countries’ efforts to share information on potential opportunities for co-operation on the development of biofuels.
The conference also aimed to boost exports of commercial technology programmes to work together and become globally competitive in the provision of replaceable energy solutions.
Viet Nam has set targets to develop biofuel production and usage models to turn out 100,000 tonnes of 5 per cent ethanol blend and 50,000 tonnes of 5 per cent biodiesel blend each year, under an energy development programme to 2010, aiming at meeting 0.4 per cent of the country’s demand for petrol.
"Developing biofuel is an urgent need and the Government has mapped out a plan to import this commodity to fulfil the country’s target," said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Van Lang. "However, top priority is still given to investment and exploitation of agricultural waste and by-products in the production of biofuels."
He added that in order to step into a period of using replaceable energy effectively, it is essential to perfect policies and a legal framework for biofuels as well as raise public awareness of using this kind of energy.
Viet Nam currently has five biofuel development projects, including a US$85 million plant to produce 99.7 per cent ethanol from cassava with a capacity of 100 million litres of ethanol per year in northern Phu Tho Province. It has another $85 million project to produce 100 million litres of 99.7 per cent ethanol each year in Dung Quat industrial zone in central Quang Ngai Province. These projects are scheduled to start their operation in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
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Ethanol fuel roaring success in HN |
A project to fuel taxis with a mixture of petrol and ethanol is to be expanded to next year after a successful trial month, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has said.
The ministry said it plans to increase the amount of fuel used to 500,000 litres from the current 32,000 litres.
The plan was launched after an agreement inked by the Petrochemical and Biofuel Joint Stock Company (PVB) and the Ha Noi Taxi Association.
The quality of the petrol was tested at the end of September, with octane numbers checked against international standards.
"None of the taxi drivers has complained about the quality of the fuel," general director of the PVB Vu Thanh Ha said.
"My taxi runs as smoothly as usual. I check the engine regularly but it’s alright," taxi driver Le Phuc Nguyen said. "The fuel is cheaper than ordinary petrol. I saved about VND300,000 (US$18.75) over the last month."
The fuel is also more environmentally friendly, said Dr Le Anh Tuan from Ha Noi University of Technology.
So far, only taxi drivers are allowed to use the fuel, which is available from two gas stations in the capital.
The PVB have submitted their findings from the project to the Directorate for Standards and Quality. It is hoped the fuel will be available to the public from the beginning of 2009. |
VNN
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