New Zealand looks at biofuels

The New Zealand government is planning to regulate the sale of biofuels, as part of its response to climate change. Oil companies may be required to sell a minimum of 0.25% of transport fuel as biofuels in 2008, rising to 2.25% by 2012, according to a government discussion document released on September 12. “New Zealand had enough domestic feedstock within the agricultural sector to produce the amount of biofuels needed to meet the minimum obligation, although imported biofuels could be used, Judith Tizard, an associate transport minister said. Meeting the proposed sales obligation would save the government more than US$16 million, under the first phase of its Kyoto Protocol commitments, between 2008-2012, Energy and Climate Change Minister David Parker said. The obligation expected to come into force by 2008. (September 13, 2006)