Taiwan starts sale of biodiesel

Gas stations in two counties, Taoyuan and Chiayi, began selling petroleum diesel mixed with 1% biodiesel, Taiwans Economic Ministry said on its web site. By 2010, the mix of the biodiesel fuel will be increased to 2%, consuming an estimated 100,000 kiloliters (26 million gallons) of biodiesel fuel in total, it said. The trial sale this year is aimed at encouraging farmers to grow more soybeans, sunflower and rapeseed. The ministry also added that the government has made the production of biodegradable fuel one of its core policies to help cut oil imports, increase farmers’ yield and reduce carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to global warming. (July 29, 2007)