Fulton Hogan to conduct biodiesel trials

Fulton Hogan, a civil engineering contractor, said it will begin trials to test the efficiency of using renewable biodiesel fuel made from recycled cooking oils. If successful, the contractor could run most of its New Zealand fleet and mobile generators with the biodiesel blend. The initial trials will use a blend of 10% biodiesel in both light and heavy trucks, utilities and cars for three months. At the end of the three-month period, the vehicles will switch to a 20% blend. This trial marks the first major commitment to the use of biodiesel by New Zealand contractors, with the exception of Meridian Energy, which pledged to use biodiesel for its earthmoving machinery if its Waitaki hydro project is approved. (July 13, 2011)