South Africa to implement mandatory biofuels blending in 2015

South Africa’s Department of Energy has set October 1, 2015 as the mandatory implementation date from which fuel producers will have to blend diesel and petrol with biofuels.
Last year, the government said the mandatory blending for biodiesel would be a minimum of 5% for diesel and between 2% and 10% for bioethanol in petrol.
South Africa, Africa’s biggest economy, imports 60% of its crude oil needs and became a net importer of finished petroleum products several years ago. Biofuels are expected to reduce its reliance on imported fuel.
The biofuels industry in South Africa, the continent’s biggest agricultural producer, has been held back by an inadequate regulatory regime. Canola, sunflower and soya are the common feedstock for biodiesel, while sugarcane and sugar beet are the common feedstock for ethanol, in South Africa.
The government said maize, South Africa’s staple food, could not be used in the production of biofuels to ensure food security.
(September 30, 2013)