Philippines considers raising biodiesel blend to 5%

The Philippines’ National Biofuels Board (NBB) is studying the possibility of raising the biodiesel blend in diesel fuel from two to five percent, following a petition by the country’s biodiesel producers who are suffering from overcapacity. The country’s 12 accredited biodiesel producers have a combined production capacity of 395.62 million liters per year against demand of just 134 million liters per year, based on the current mandated blending ratio of 2%. The NBB is carrying out several technical and scientific studies to test the viability of 5% biodiesel blending, the official said. The Philippines consumes about 18.5 million liters per day of diesel fuel. A 5% blending ratio will take the country’s total annual biodiesel demand to 337.5 million liters. (October 20, 2009)