New Zealand's biofuel producers could face setback with imports   

New Zealand’s emerging biofuel industry seems to have hit another roadblock, with local oil companies expected to heed a government committee report released on June 23, which strongly recommended imports. Dickon Posnett, spokesman for The New Zealand Biofuel Manufacturers Association (NZBMA), said the NZBMA supported both ethanol and biodiesel, but the committee report suggested local manufacturers would get frozen out. “The committee has recommended that the subsidy be reviewed and ethanol be brought into line with all other biofuels in 2010, but what it means right now is that the oil companies will look to meet their obligations to introduce biofuel blends through importing ethanol, most likely from Brazil,” he said. Using its own natural resources could provide the country with an economic boost as well as help it meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he said. (June 23/25, 2008)