Ethanol plant proposed for Leyte

In Tacloban City, Philippines, Japans Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd. presented Leyte Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya a plan to set up in Leyte province a US$100-million bioethanol plant and a US$50-million biodiesel plant. According to the proposal, the bioethanol plant will need 34,000 hectares of land for cassava plantation, 36,000 hectares for sweet potato plantation, 76,000 hectares for yam plantation and 40,000 hectares for sugar cane plantation. The biodiesel project will need 17,000 hectares to be planted with palm and 61,000 hectares with coconut. Bagulaya said Cosmo Oil representatives found the climate in Leyte ideal for growing energy crops. (June 13, 2007)