Brazil, Philippines sign bioenergy cooperation MoU

Brazilian energy minister, Edison Lobao, and his Philippines’ counterpart, Angelo Tomas Reyes, signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the bioenergy area. The MoU envisages cooperation in biofuels projects, with focus on the ethanol. The target of the agreement is to promote the expansion of the bilateral trade and investments in the sector. In 2007, the government of Philippines passed laws introducing the ethanol and biodiesel in the country’s energy mix. Under these laws, the country adopted a 1% blend of biodiesel to diesel sold in the local fuel stations and a 5% ethanol blend as of February 2009. The 10% ethanol blend is seen to enter into force in 2011, while the 2% biodiesel blend will be available in the country yet in 2009. Brazil is world leader in the production of ethanol, using sugar cane, abundant in the country, as a raw material. (June 25, 2009)