China sets aside land in southwest for biofuels

China will set apart 98,840 acres in the southwest for growing plants that can be used to produce up to 60,000 tons of biodiesel per annum. The State Forestry Administration has signed the agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation to jointly develop the farm as part of China’s search for alternative energies.  The agreement is a key step for China to explore biological resources and will help reduce the country’s heavy reliance on coal and other fossil fuels, said SFA Director Jia Zhibang. The farm to be planted this year is located in the southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. Jia said that the Hainan and Guizhou provinces are also ideal locations for growing feedstocks for biofuel plants.  (January 15, 2007)