Biodiesel expected to take off in NSW

Biodiesel production in Australia is becoming more competitive as mandatory sales of biodiesel begin next year in the state of New South Wales. By 2010, 2% of all of the state’s diesel sales must be biodiesel, the government said. Commercial Director of Biodiesel Australia Brad Wheaton said mandatory sales means farmers will benefit. “It’s a new, strengthened market for their product, because of course soybeans contain around 20% oil. So that means Australian farmers will now have a new market which will be flowing into the fuel that they use,” he said. Australian biodiesel companies are now courting soybean farmers to shore up supply of this feedstock. (May 5, 2009)