Singapore to focus on 2G technology

Singapore faces stiff competition from palm oil giants Malaysia and Indonesia as the region’s biofuel-refining hub, a study by Spire Research and Consulting shows. To better compete, Singapore will focus on more advanced second-generation biofuel technology, which is still new, to produce higher-quality biofuels, the just-released study quoted the Economic Development Board (EDB) as saying. Singapore’s world-class port, government incentives for the biofuels industry and proximity to major feedstock producers Indonesia and Malaysia are pluses for Singapore. According to the study, three refineries being developed in Singapore– by Australia’s Natural Fuel, Peter Cremer and Kulim Group and Continental Bioenergy — will together produce more than 200,000 tons of biofuels a year. Malaysia is said to have six projects that will produce more than 300,000 tons per annum (TPA) while Indonesia has more than 14 projects that will produce 70,000 TPA. (September 1, 2007)