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(Indonesia Palm Oil Facts) Leading Indonesian political and media outlets have promoted the growing possibility of a ban on all Belgian milk and dairy products entering Indonesia, following Belgian Minister Zakia Khattabi’s decision to ban Indonesian palm oil biofuels from entering Belgium. The official Indonesian Parliament website carries the comments of Dr. Herman
Indonesia
by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg) Oil refiners’ attempt to clean up their act is bumping into growing concerns over food prices and supplies as nations seek to get back on their feet — Soaring demand for crops has once again raised the question of whether nations should really depend on ethanol
May 21, 2021
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(Antara News) In the framework to run the direction of the President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the Grand National Energy Strategy for energy transformation and strengthening green economy, green technology and green products, PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to prioritize various energy transition programs towards new and renewable energy by utilizing the
May 20, 2021
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by Tom Brown (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services) Shifting government priorities are continuing to weigh on the growth of biofuels, with the policy-driven sector buffeted by delays in new legislation and low fossil fuel costs. The public commitments by most governments to emissions-reduction, and the decarbonisation of heavy industry to meet
May 14, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The International Energy Agency published “Renewables 2020”, an analysis and forecast through 2025 of the impact of Covid-19 on renewables in the electricity, heat and transport sectors. We pulled the transport and biofuels pieces so you can find out what the IEA says about Covid-19’s
April 27, 2021
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(Clariant) Indonesian oil & gas company Pertamina and Clariant collaboratively evaluate the feasibility of sunliquid® technology to convert available regional feedstocks into advanced biofuels; Technology evaluation and conceptual engineering study also cornerstone to the work; Pertamina presented project collaboration details at Hannover Messe Clariant, a focused, sustainable, and innovative specialty
April 20, 2021
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by Tenny Kristiana and Chelsea Baldino (International Council on Clean Transportation) Because of its abundant biofuel feedstocks, Indonesia has the potential to produce biofuels via a number of pathways, including using different technologies and feedstocks to create different fuels. There is strong policy support in the country for biodiesel, and the government
April 20, 2021
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … What is the overall demand and market like? What about feedstock innovations? Are there clear technology winners? In today’s Digest, some new facilities, some conversions, some increased capacity, what are the key trends we are seeing in renewable diesel, what might the future
April 19, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Derived from widely available plant material, JANUS coated paper can be custom-shaped and when coated, creates moisture resistance equivalent to petroleum-coated products. Unlike the old school petroleum-coated paper, J&J’s green paper technology is recyclable, compostable and made with zero petroleum additives, making it safe
April 13, 2021
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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With so many options showing up at some gas stations, what should I choose? E85 and Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) We’ve retrofitted my 2002 Ford Focus to be able to use E85, 85% renewable ethanol. (Watch the video!) You can also buy flex fuel vehicles
April 13, 2021
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by Amir Imran Husain Safri (The Sun Daily) Palm oil-based biofuel demand from the European Union (EU) might disappear before the end-2030 implementation deadline imposed by Europe’s Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), according to Sumwin Group’s founder and CEO, U.R. Unnithan. The directive’s indirect land-use change (ILUC) risk criteria dictate
March 29, 2021
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(Biofuels International) Malaysia will discuss with Indonesia a plan to formulate the best strategy to protect the oil palm industry of both countries for the future. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called for the framework of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) to be strengthened
February 25, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The hot-off-the-press Renewable Fuels Association’s 2021 Ethanol Industry Outlook focuses on ethanol as an ‘essential energy’ to address the challenges of climate change, food and energy security, and rural prosperity. Now in its 22nd year, it provides key statistics, trends, and analysis on the latest
February 22, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s news from Planet Honeywell UOP, that they’ve achieved a one-step conversion to renewable diesel for selected feedstocks. It’s notable for two reasons. First, it reduces the capex for certain eligible feedstocks — right now, think quality plant oils, not rendering fats or used cooking oil.
February 10, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable diesel, all 9 billion gallons built, under construction, in planning – Take a deep dive into the latest hot renewable diesel news and a special Digest presentation that asks will all of these billions of gallons fleet get built? If not, who are the potential
February 9, 2021
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(Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)/Biobased Diesel Daily) The accounting of biofuels with a high risk of indirect land use change (iLUC) will end in Austria July 1. This exclusion is provided for in the late-January amended legal provision of the fuel ordinance. The Austrian federal
February 2, 2021
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by Jane O’Malley, Stephanie Searle, and Tenny Kristiana (International Council on Clean Transportation) As Indonesia moves toward more advanced vehicle emission standards, lower sulfur limits in fuel, and palm biodiesel expansion, it is important to understand the impact that increasing palm biodiesel blending rates is likely to have on vehicle emissions. This
January 16, 2021
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by Shaheera Aznam Shah (Malaysian Reserve) Mohd Khairuddin says we will continue to fight against any discriminatory actions which pose a threat to the country’s economy and rakyat’s livelihood — Malaysia will file its lawsuit against the European Union (EU) on the trade bloc’s policy of phasing out palm oil-based biofuel imports
January 16, 2021
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(ANTARA) The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) pressed for the government to speed up the development of biofuel as a better alternative to using fossil fuel. “We have to develop biofuel as a substitute for fossil fuel. We have already conducted several research on biofuel, especially
January 8, 2021
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the Digest today releases its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around the world, looking at the state of biofuels mandates in 65 countries. Get the latest up to the minute new information on the Canada Clean Fuels Standard as well as a
January 8, 2021
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(Malay Mail) A nimble push into higher biodiesel blends such as B40 — 40 per cent blend of palm oil-derived biodiesel — by Indonesia and B30 by Malaysia will help to mitigate the negative effects of the European Union’s (EU) lower palm oil demand for biofuel, the Malaysian Biodiesel Association said.
January 5, 2021
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(Fitch Ratings) The revision in Indonesia’s export levy structure should support Indonesia’s biodiesel consumption growth in 2021 by boosting collections to fund the subsidy burden, Fitch Ratings says. This will also support crude palm oil (CPO) prices, and the Malaysian benchmark should average higher than our assumption of USD560/tonne (t)
December 8, 2020
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by Bernadette Christina and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) Policy adjustments required to sustain biodiesel subsidies; Biodiesel program may see $865 mln deficit in 2021-economist; Price gap between crude palm oil and diesel widened in 2020 … The world’s biggest producer of palm oil makes it mandatory for diesel to be blended with
December 3, 2020
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by Amandeep Parmar (Argus Media) A new free-trade agreement (FTA) between 15 Asia-Pacific countries will phase out tariffs on a host of biofuels and feedstocks, although existing trade flows may limit the immediate market impact. The Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) was signed yesterday by China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New
November 17, 2020
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by Sarantis Michalopoulos (EURACTIV.com) Governments around the world need to urgently address this year’s 11.6% drop in biofuel output, caused by the pandemic, in order to meet transport’s decarbonisation goals, the head of the renewable energy division at the International Energy Agency (IEA) told EURACTIV in an interview. Paolo Frankl said
November 17, 2020
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(Today Online/Reuters) Indonesia is unlikely to proceed with plans to raise the bio-content of its palm oil-based biodiesel to 40% next year as it struggles to fund the programme, an energy ministry official told parliament on Monday. Instead, the Southeast Asian country will retain its biodiesel B30 programme which makes
November 16, 2020
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(Fitch Ratings) The Indonesian government may rein in its push to increase use of biodiesel as it now comes at higher cost following a fall in crude oil prices and sustained strength in crude palm oil (CPO) prices, Fitch Ratings says. Biodiesel is now much more expensive than regular diesel,
November 13, 2020
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by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) … India is the largest consumer of palm oil. It is an extremely versatile ingredient that is firmly a part of our daily lives. According to WWF, palm oil is present in close to 50% of the packaged goods we regularly buy from supermarkets or online
October 29, 2020
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(Wärtsilä) … The Wärtsilä 34DF engines can operate on a variety of fuels. This flexibility will allow the plant to switch to operating on natural gas when it becomes locally available. Initially the engines will run on Indonesian B30 biodiesel. The fast-starting flexibility of the engines will also enable the integration
October 22, 2020
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(University of Leeds) Tapping into the myriad uses of plants and fungi could save people and the planet, says new report — University of Leeds researchers have joined forces with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to conduct research into the plants and fungi that could be used as a source of
October 7, 2020
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(International Trade Administration/Federal Register) The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on biodiesel from Indonesia for the period of review (POR) April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020, based on the timely withdrawal of the request for review. READ MORE Department
September 30, 2020
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by Rohan Somwanshi, Shikha Singh and Mugunthan Kesavan (S&P Global Platts) US corn sales to China shows insufficient domestic supply; US ethanol output blip will not impact DDGS exports to Southeast Asia; Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand to stay top buyers of US DDGS China is expected to maintain a steady ethanol program despite a
September 30, 2020
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(Honeywell UOP) National Oil Company of Indonesia to open green fuels refinery in Plaju and revamp Cilacap refinery for renewable diesel production — Honeywell today announced PT Pertamina (Persero) will use Honeywell UOP technologies to produce advanced biofuels at its Plaju and Cilacap refineries in Indonesia. The company will use UOP Renewable
September 29, 2020
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(Nikkei Asian Review) Southeast Asian production rises while palm oil waste also takes the spotlight — Japanese biofuel companies are expanding their production of fuel from sources such as algae and palm oil waste, despite the current lack of demand from the aviation industry and falling oil prices due to the
September 15, 2020
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(Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, plans to revise its palm oil export levy rules to allow higher collection when prices increase, a senior cabinet minister told Reuters, as part of moves to underpin an ambitious biodiesel programme. Since June this year, Indonesia has collected a maximum $55
September 10, 2020
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(U.S. Grains Council) A boom in demand for hand sanitizer in South Korea since the outbreak of COVID-19 is no shocker, but the related jump in U.S. ethanol imports to the country to meet that need may be more surprising. Even more importantly, this uptick in demand is opening doors for
September 7, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, biobased mandates around the world. Where are the markets you can count on, how much can you count on? 65 countries in all, We’ll be focusing especially on new information out of Argentina, Brazil, Britain after Brexit, Canada, the European Union, China, India, Indonesia,
September 7, 2020
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(Feed & Grain News) Boom in demand for hand sanitizer in South Korea is related to jump in U.S. ethanol imports to the country — A boom in demand for hand sanitizer in South Korea since the outbreak of COVID-19 is no shocker, but the related jump in U.S. ethanol imports
September 4, 2020
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by Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil exporter, plans to finish research into biodiesel containing 40% palm oil by November, the head of the energy ministry’s research department said on Wednesday. The country will implement the mandatory use of biodiesel containing 40% palm oil, known as B40, in
August 27, 2020
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(Today/Reuters) Indonesia may further increase palm oil export levies in future to support its ambitious biodiesel programme as the price of crude oil is expected to remain weak next year, a senior Finance Ministry official said on Wednesday. Indonesia collects levies from palm oil exports to fund the cost difference between
August 20, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At DigestConnect this past Thursday, we talked about the latest the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, how the LCFS relates to the Renewable Fuel Standard and energy values, we compared the value stack for 5 popular transport molecules – gasoline, diesel, ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, and renewable
August 19, 2020
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(University of Hohenheim) In Sumatra, smallholders in particular have a key function, according to a study on the conversion of rainforests into monocultures and their effects — Oil palm plantations as far as the eye can see. In addition to a dramatic decline in many animal and plant species, such plantations often lead
August 17, 2020
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by Brian Flood (Bloomberg Law) Biodiesel imports hit with countervailing duties up to 64.73%; Court faults subsidy finding regarding Indonesia export tariff — The Commerce Department must revisit and possibly lower anti-subsidy duties on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia, the U.S. Court of International Trade said, questioning whether an Indonesian export
August 14, 2020
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(Palm Oil Monitor) Indonesia has picked up a number of allies in its battle with the EU over the bloc’s ban of palm oil in its renewable energy scheme. An additional 18 countries have reserved their rights to participate in the proceedings as third parties. These include palm producers Malaysia, Thailand, Guatemala,
August 11, 2020
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by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Following a successful production trial of 100 percent renewable diesel (RD100), Indonesia’s state-owned oil company Pertamina is ready to scale up its investments in renewable diesel, biobased jet fuel and green gasoline. Pertamina concluded a production trial in July of RD100 from refined, bleached and deodorized
August 5, 2020
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Bernadette Christina, and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) Indonesia’s plans to raise the bio-content of its palm oil-based biodiesel to 40% – known as B40 – is back on schedule with a target for implementation by July 2021, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday. Indonesia, which has been increasing
July 31, 2020
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by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Indonesia, the Secretariat of Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) acknowledges the statement by the European Commissioner for Trade on behalf of the European Commission in response to parliamentary question E-001194/2020, which may indicate a new willingness by Europe to collaborate with palm oil producing countries to foster
July 28, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed last week’s DigestConnect webinar, have no fear, the full deck is here! From 11 pathways on who’s doing what, how and with what, 21 projects and who’s running them and where, 13 fast emerging projects and who’s converting, constructing, planning and where,
July 27, 2020
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by Alan P. Mammoser (Biodiesel Magazine) Biofuels will likely play an important role in a hoped-for transformation to a low-carbon economy. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, they will need to play a large role in the direct application of renewables to decarbonize heavy transport including road freight, shipping and
July 24, 2020
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by Bernadette Christian Munthe and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) … The new jet fuel will be made in Pertamina’s existing facilities in Cilacap by “co-processing” crude oil with 3% refined, bleached and deodorised palm oil (RBDO), she said. Like Pertamina’s D100, Indonesia plans to eventually produce “green” jet fuel made up of
July 24, 2020
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by Wilda Asmarini and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) Indonesia’s state oil company PT Pertamina produced its first successful batch of biodiesel made up of 100% palm oil (D100) in its Dumai refinery last week and is set to produce 1,000 barrels per day (bpd), the company said on Wednesday. Indonesia, which has
July 16, 2020
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by Hans Nicholas Jong (Mongabay/EcoBusiness) Campaigners have blasted the move, noting that the fund is meant to empower small oil palm farmers and not subsidise the giant multinationals that produce biodiesel. — … The social and travel restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic have hit Indonesia’s economy hard, and small oil
July 2, 2020
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(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biomass Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel, which include biodiesel and renewable diesel, grew 26 percent in 2019 to more than 27,000 barrels per day (b/d), reversing three years of decline. Imports of biomass-based diesel increased in 2019 because of the increase in renewable diesel imports from
July 2, 2020
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(Biofuels International) The Indonesian government approved regulations regarding the use of biodiesel as a substitute for fossil fuel across all economic sectors in 2018. Recently the South East Asian government mandated to mix 20% biodiesel with 80% fossil fuel (B20). And at the end of last year the country launched
July 1, 2020
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by Mei Mei Chu (Today) Malaysia, the world’s second largest palm oil producer, will take legal action against the European Union’s restrictions on palm oil-based biofuels with the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling the policy a “discriminatory action”. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on Wednesday the
July 1, 2020
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(The Edge Markets/Bernama) With demand for crude oil dropping sharply, leading to a steep fall in crude oil prices, the viability of the biodiesel business has also weakened significantly, putting both Malaysia and Indonesia’s biodiesel mandates under pressure. However, there is a silver lining in the dark clouds, as the world has seen
June 26, 2020
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by Tabita Diela, Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, is pushing back by three years its target to produce fuel made entirely from palm oil, a government document showed on Tuesday. The government initially aimed to start producing the so-called “green diesel”
June 17, 2020
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(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel, which include biodiesel and renewable diesel, grew 26 percent in 2019 to more than 27,000 barrels per day (more than 413.9 MMgy), ending two years in a row of decline. Imports of biomass-based diesel increased in 2019 because of the
June 10, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15 may include converting oil refineries to biorefineries, something to
June 10, 2020
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(U.S. Grains Council) U.S. ethanol can now enter the Indonesian market by way of pre-blended fuel, following the recent removal of a ban on pre-blended product entering the country. This change creates a potential market of more than 200 million gallons (71 million bushels in corn equivalent). The market development efforts
June 1, 2020
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(Neste) Neste has updated its traceability dashboard which provides detailed data on the company’s palm oil and palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD, a processing residue of refining food-quality palm oil) supply chains. The site provides a map service from which users can find the locations of Neste’s suppliers and review data on suppliers’
May 22, 2020
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by Gayatri Suroyo, Tabita Diela, Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters) The Indonesian government is considering alternate plans to increase subsidies for the country’s ambitious biodiesel programme after crude oil prices tumbled, a finance ministry official said on Wednesday. A historic crash in oil prices this year has widened the
May 14, 2020
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by Bernadette Christina (Reuters) Indonesia is likely to delay plans to raise bio-content in palm oil-based biodiesel to 40%, and keep going with an already ambitious 30% content, a senior official said, amid speculation that low crude prices could force a government re-think. The biodiesel programme is a key part of the
May 11, 2020
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(Biofuels International) Malaysian palm oil producers have been urged to use technology to improve yield as the industry wrestles with concerns about sustainability, the chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) revealed. Malaysia, the world’s second biggest palm oil producer, has set a cap of 6.5 million hectares on
May 1, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council is soliciting applications for seven advisory teams (A-Teams), including the Ethanol A-Team. According to the USGC, A-Team members gain expertise on trade policy and market development topics. In addition, their input helps form the backbone of the USGC’s operations and long-term
April 14, 2020
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by Norman Harsono & Wahyoe Boediwardhana (Jakarta Post) Indonesia’s plan to roll out sugarcane-based biogasoline will miss another deadline this year as upstream problems in the country’s sugarcane heartland remain unsolved. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued five years ago a regulation mandating the nationwide use of 10 percent
April 9, 2020
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(IHS Markit/FO Licht) There is also early evidence that as restrictions have been lifted in China, more people there are preferring to travel by private cars or taxis rather than taking public transport—it is highly likely this will happen in Europe too. … For the EU-27, diesel demand in 2020
April 7, 2020
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by Lauren Moffitt (Argus Media) Indonesia is delaying implementation of its 40pc biodiesel blending (B40) programme indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trials were due to begin in March with a roll-out planned for 2021. The government is eager to push higher blending mandates to reduce reliance on expensive foreign oil and support the
April 6, 2020
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by Akshat Rathi (Bloomberg Green) C16 Biosciences uses yeast to convert food waste and industrial byproducts into a sustainable alternative. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, helmed by Bill Gates, is leading an investment round of $20 million for C16 Biosciences, a New York-based startup, which is working on making sustainable alternatives for palm oil. The
April 1, 2020
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(The Jakarta Post) Experts have expressed doubt about President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to increase the palm oil content in biodiesel to 40 percent on a mass scale by next year from 30 percent at present. They say producers may fail to meet the increase in demand and the quality
March 17, 2020
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(Antara News) Implementation of the B30 biodiesel fuel program, a diesel fuel blended with 30-percent palm-based biofuel, is expected to absorb 9.6 million kiloliters (KL) of domestic biodiesel in 2020, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated. “The B30 program is expected to absorb 9.6 million kiloliters of domestic biodiesel in
March 6, 2020
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(AZO Cleantech) Despite the rising controversy over the sustainability of vegetable oil biofuels, these products are increasingly being utilized as a substitute for fossil fuels. — In a recent study headed by the University of Gottingen, scientists analyzed the impact of palm-oil biodiesel on greenhouse gas emissions for the whole life cycle. The scientists
March 3, 2020
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(Palm Oil Monitor) This week Indonesia and the EU are meeting in Geneva for a WTO consultation over the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The meeting is the culmination of a months-long public battle of words over the introduction of the measure. Over the past few months Indonesian lawmakers and
February 28, 2020
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by Translator: Ricky Mohammad Nugraha (Tempo.co) The Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stef Blok said the Netherlands is not backing the European Union biofuel ban that targets Indonesia-produced crude palm oil (CPO). However, Blok asserts that this issue must not be dragged out any further and Indonesia must pursue a sustainable way of producing CPO. The foreign affairs
February 21, 2020
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by Yoga Rusmana and Eko Listiyorini (Bloomberg) Just as the world’s top sugar traders forecast a global shortage of the commodity, No. 1 raw-sugar importer Indonesia says it wants a record amount of the sweet stuff. … Global sugar prices have surged about 12 per cent this year for the
February 13, 2020
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Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) European agriculture urgently needs reliable sales alternatives to stabilise its agricultural revenue. This is one of the central concerns of farmers in the European Union currently taking to the streets. The “Green Deal” announced by the European Commission could and should create the
February 10, 2020
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The 12th PALMEX Indonesia 2021 is the only specialized Palm Oil event in Asia that brings together an international congregation of both upstream and downstream palm oil companies and also its supporting industries gathered in the capital city of North Sumatera, Medan to showcase the latest developments in the palm
February 3, 2020
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by Wilda Asmarini (Reuters) Indonesia state energy company PT Pertamina has ended a partnership with Italian oil, gas and power firm Eni SpA to process palm oil into fuel, Pertamina’s chief executive told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. Pertamina’s Nicke Widyawati said during the hearing that Eni required internationally recognised certification for
January 31, 2020
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by Norman Harsono (Jakarta Post) Over the past five years, state-owned electricity company PLN has been intensifying the use of palm oil in its diesel-fired power plants but, going forward, the company is intent on slowing down usage out of technical concerns. PLN president director Zulkifli Zaini said on Tuesday that
January 31, 2020
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by Mei Mei Chu (Reuters) Average palm oil prices will surge 17.9% this year, a Reuters poll of industry participants showed, as reduced output in the first half of the year and higher biodiesel consumption in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia tighten the market. … Indonesia and Malaysia together account for
January 22, 2020
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(Biofuels International) A new study carried out by economic modelling experts from Purdue University in the US has found the impacts of US biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia to be insignificant. The study, titled ‘US Biofuel Production and Policy Implications for Land Use Changes in Malaysia and
January 21, 2020
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(Jakarta Post) Bus operators have complained that 20 percent blended biodiesel (B20) has caused their engines to run poorly, providing a cautionary message for future developments as Indonesia envisions a future with unblended pure biodiesel to fuel vehicles across the country. Young Indonesian Autobus Entrepreneurs Association (IPOMI) head Kurnia Lesani Adnan told tempo.co that
January 17, 2020
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(Government Europa) Italian regulators today (January 15, 2020) fined Italy’s oil giant Eni over advertisements on TV and in newspapers, digital media and petrol stations that falsely claimed Eni Diesel+ was ‘green’. The watchdog states that the marketing campaign deceives consumers when it claims that the ‘green’ diesel has a positive
January 16, 2020
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by Telly Nathalia (Jakarta Globe) he European Union had provoked a “trade war” by issuing discriminative restrictions on Indonesian palm oil, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo tweeted on Saturday. “Indonesia has 13 million hectares of oil palm plantations that produce 46 million tons [of crude palm oil, or CPO] per year. The EU
January 14, 2020
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by Bernadette Christina Munthe, Wilda Asmarini (Reuters) Indonesia’s energy ministry plans to start road tests for a biodiesel programme with 40% bio-content (B40) in April, a government official said on Thursday. Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, last year had increased the mandatory bio-content of its biodiesel programme to 30%, known
January 10, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 64 countries have targets or mandates – but how much where, and when, and what? Besides the EU, the major blending mandates that will drive global demand are those set in the US, China and Brazil – each of which has set targets – or, in
January 2, 2020
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by Donavan Lim (S&P Global Platts) Indonesian PME exports to sink; CPO production stalls; B30 to support consumption — Analysts and traders fixated on the elevated crude palm oil stockpile at the beginning of 2019 are left cheering as CPO stocks fell across Malaysia and Indonesia while prices rallied to MR 2,684/mt (US
December 27, 2019
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by Ed Davies and Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters/Jakarta Post) What started as a spat with the European Union over Indonesian palm oil has escalated into a far broader trade dispute with imported European spirits and now dairy products caught in the crossfire. Trade tensions have ratcheted up since the European Commission concluded
December 26, 2019
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(ITOCHU Corporation) ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Yoshihisa Suzuki, President and COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has decided to conduct an overseas demonstration project (hereinafter the “Demonstration Project”) in collaboration with euglena Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Mitsuru Izumo, President: hereinafter “euglena Co.”) to culture euglena
December 17, 2019
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by Jane Chung (Reuters) * S.Korea No.1 biofuel maker testing marine fuel products – exec; * Clear IMO guidelines, legislation for biofuel blending needed; * Says capacity expansion under consideration — SK Chemicals , South Korea’s top biofuel maker, has started tests on blending its biodiesel with petroleum-based fuels to create low-sulphur marine oil
December 16, 2019
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(China Dialogue/Future Fuel Strategies) … But the positive changes have been more than negated by growth in demand for unsustainable palm oil from other markets. No country plays a larger role than China, the chief destination for Indonesian exports and among the top consumers of palm oil. Imports of palm oil into
December 13, 2019
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by M Razi RahmanSuharto (Antara News) The Indonesian government should formulate a roadmap for the use of 30 percent blended biodiesel (B30) in the maritime and fishery sector since it will have a wide-ranging impact on maritime aspects, an executive stated. “The vast majority of business agents engaged in the
December 13, 2019
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(Malay Mail/Bernama) Crude palm oil (CPO) prices would be able to sustain its current upward momentum if governments, particularly those from the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), could coordinate allocation increases under the biodiesel mandates, says palm oil expert Dr James Fry. Fry, who is also the chairman of
December 11, 2019
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by Wilda Asmarini, Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters) Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, plans to implement a biodiesel program with 40% bio-content (B40) between 2021 and 2022, a government official said on Tuesday. From January, Southeast Asia’s largest economy is set to bring in biodiesel with 30%
December 11, 2019
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by Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters) The European Union confirmed tariffs on Indonesian biodiesel imports on Monday to counter what it sees as unfair subsidies, the latest blow to producers after the bloc ruled that palm oil should be phased out of renewable transport fuels. In the conclusion to a case that has
December 9, 2019
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byAhmad Rafiq (Temp.co) … The former governor of Jakarta (Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or known as Ahok) was officially named a chief commissioner of Pertamina by State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir on November 25. … The board of commissioners, he mentioned, would continuously push for the development of biofuel production.
December 6, 2019
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by Norman Harsono (Jakarta Post) Biodiesel industry stakeholders have completed a five-month road test, whereby 11 vehicles were driven up to 50,000 kilometers using 30 percent blended biodiesel (B30), as the government is set to mandate the biofuel usage starting early next year. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, as the
December 2, 2019
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(Antara News) Indonesia has invited Mexico to conduct research together to develop palm oil-based biofuel as renewable energy during the third meeting of the Indonesia-Mexico Consultative Committee on Agriculture (CCA) held in Mexico City. At the meeting, held on November 21 and 22, 2019, the Indonesian delegation led by the
November 27, 2019
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by Ian Morse (Washington Post) Now, a growing appetite for electric vehicles is creating new demand for nickel, whose chemical derivatives are increasingly used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries. But the push for clean energy is coming at an environmental cost to forests and fisheries in one of the world’s most biodiverse
November 25, 2019
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by Elizabeth Pineau (Reuters) France’s parliament on Friday voted to remove tax breaks for the use of palm oil as a biofuel, a day after a ruling in favour of maintaining the advantage led to howls of protests from environmentalists. A large majority of members present voted against a government-backed proposal
November 18, 2019
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(Tempo.co) Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto affirmed that Indonesia would file a lawsuit against the European Union (EU) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) this year. The suit would be lodged following the EU’s plan to ban the use of crude palm oil as biofuel fuel starting 2030. “We will schedule it, at
November 13, 2019
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by Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters) Indonesia will run a comprehensive trial for its B30 biodiesel programme in mid-November or early December, Paulus Tjakrawan, vice chairman of Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association, said on Friday. The country aims to implement in 2020 a mandatory programme for biodiesel containing 30% of
November 11, 2019
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by Nur Yasmin (Jakarta Globe) Djoko Siswanto, secretary general of the National Energy Committee, said Indonesia is developing green fuel as an end-product of palm oil, to reduce the country’s reliance on costly oil imports. Green fuel is a mix of palm oil and regular fuel. “We are testing it at two
November 7, 2019
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by Lucas Hall (ICIS) An increase in global biodiesel production is likely to further lengthen the world’s glycerine supply glut in 2020 as higher biodiesel mandates increase the supply of crude glycerine by-product. … One factor market participants are watching is the growth of renewable diesel production around the globe. Renewable
November 7, 2019
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by Nur Yasmin (Jakarta Globe) Indonesia’s B30 biofuel plan, which will become effective at the beginning of January next year, will further increase domestic consumption of palm oil and prop up the price of the commodity, analysts said. The average palm oil price has rebounded to $650 per metric ton this
November 5, 2019
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by Tom Forrest (ABC News) A bamboo school and turning fried chicken oil into fuel — this is what school life has been for two young sisters making biofuel for school buses and a unique motorcycle in Indonesia. — …Speaking to the ABC during a family holiday in Western Australia’s
November 4, 2019
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(Toshiba) Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (hereinafter, “Toshiba ESS”) today announced that the company has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with state-owned electric company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (hereinafter, “PLN”), on an accelerated adoption of the independent hydrogen-based energy supply system, H2One™, in the country. A signing ceremony was held
October 24, 2019
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(International Energy Agency) Replacing a portion of gasoline and diesel demand with biofuels is a means of increasing a country’s domestic fuel supply — Improving security of supply is a fundamental reason for the introduction of biofuel policy support in China, India and Indonesia, which in turn has raised production prospects.
October 22, 2019
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by Hans Nicholas Jong (Mongabay.com/Eco-Business) A European member of parliament says the bloc isn’t concerned about threats by Indonesia and Malaysia to file a trade complaint over an EU policy to phase out palm oil-based biofuels by 2030. The two Southeast Asian countries have denounced the EU policy as discriminatory. — The
October 15, 2019
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by Tan Xue Ying (The Edge Markets) Concerned by the impact of low commodity prices on livelihoods of Malaysians in the plantation sector, the government has proposed a palm oil replanting loan fund of RM550 million. In the budget speech 2020 in parliament today, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the
October 15, 2019
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by Geert De Clercq and Gus Trompiz (Reuters) France’s constitutional court on Friday upheld a law excluding palm oil from the country’s biofuel scheme, rejecting an appeal by energy company Total (TOTF.PA) which says the measure puts at risk its production site in southern France. The legislation will remove palm
October 14, 2019
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(Antara News) The Indonesian government will prepare to take legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge the European Union (EU) over its Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Delegated Regulation (DR). The lawsuit plan was rolled out over concerns of the regulation directly impacting the Indonesian
October 10, 2019
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by Faisal Yunianto and Sri Haryati (Antara News) State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Persero is working with private logistical railway service firms Servo Railway and Progress Rail for designing locomotives run on B100 biodiesel. The cooperation is a follow-up of the government’s plan to step up palm
October 1, 2019
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by Monica Evans (Forests News) Open-access atlas a boon for monitoring and transparency — In a welcome “good news” story for the world’s carbon stocks and biodiversity, the felling of old-growth forest for oil palm plantations on the island of Borneo has tracked a steady decline since its 2012 peak. That
September 24, 2019
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(U.S. Grains Council) U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff, consultants and members attending the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) in Singapore this week found reason for enthusiasm for ethanol’s future in the region. “This is the first time the Council has participated in a regional petroleum conference in Asia,” said Tim Tierney,
September 13, 2019
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by Donavan Lim and Yi Jeng Huang (S&P Gobal Platts) US ethanol exports are forecast to fall around 100 million gallons year on year to 1.5 billion gallons in 2019 as trade flows redirects away from China toward Southeast Asia and India, according to industry executive in an interview at
September 13, 2019
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(The Jakarta Post/Portal Macaúba) Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution has urged researchers to complete a study on a new chemical catalyst expected to become a key ingredient in ramping up domestic biofuel production. Pertamina Research and Technology Center – owned state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina – has supported the
September 11, 2019
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by Yoga Rusmana and Eko Listiyoriniana (Bloomberg) Indonesia said it conducted the world’s longest road test using diesel blended with 30% palm oil, and the results showed that the biofuel is safe for cars. The country, which is the No. 1 producer of palm, sent a fleet of cars including
September 9, 2019
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(Agence France Presses/ RTL Today) Indonesia’s trade minister Friday threatened to impose higher tariffs on EU dairy imports in response to the bloc’s proposed move to hit biodiesel made from palm oil with anti-subsidy duties. The warning could escalate a trade dispute with the European Union after Indonesia — the world’s
August 13, 2019
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by Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (Jakarta Post) President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he wanted to increase the portion of diesel blended with crude palm oil (CPO) from the current 20 percent ( B20 ) to 30 percent ( B30 ) starting January next year and to 50 percent ( B50 ) by the
August 13, 2019
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(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) The preliminary anti-subsidy duties announced by the EU Commission will not reduce imports of palm oil-based biodiesel. This is the conclusion the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has drawn from a comparison of 8 per cent and 18 per cent
August 12, 2019
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by Philip Blenkinsop, Sybille de la Hamaide and Bernadette Christina Munthe (Reuters) The European Commission has proposed duties ranging from 8% to 18% on imports of biodiesel from Indonesia to counter what it says are unfair subsidies, the latest twist in a case that has lasted seven years. The subsidies would
July 29, 2019
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(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)) France is tightening up regulations on the use of palm oil as a feedstock in biofuels production. However, this only applies to palm oil eligibility within France. As a result, biofuels produced in France could push their way onto the EU market,
July 29, 2019
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(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/LifePR) …The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has noted that the price situation in the vegetable oil markets would be even more dramatic, if countries such as Argentina, Brazil, the US and Indonesia did not ease market pressure by raising
July 17, 2019
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(Bernama/The Sun Daily) Malaysia will submit a complaint to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by November to challenge the European Union’s restrictions on palm biofuel, according to Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim. She said documents related to the complaint are currently with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). … Kok said
July 15, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … (T)he bioeconomy’s biggest and grandest show, the BIO World Congress, takes us on an accustomed journey through the present and future in a sector that has more twists and turns than the rides at Six Flags and the acceleration of a mission to Mars.
July 10, 2019
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(Xinhua) The German government is expecting global palm oil production to grow and is calling for “globally coordinated measures to implement deforestation-free cultivation”, according to a response to a parliamentary inquiry first reported on by the German press agency (dpa) on Tuesday. “Due to the almost unrivalled yields, interest in the
July 3, 2019
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(Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP)/Biodiesel Magazine) Selling prices for palm oil and diesel fuel have recently converged to the same level, after the former had even been at a lower price for six months. The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has drawn attention to the
June 26, 2019
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by Lauren Crothers (South Africa Today) -Norway saw drop in palm oil consumption following new regulations limiting sales in response to concerns about deforestation for plantations. -The decrease has been lauded by a Norwegian rainforest advocacy group, which called it a “big win for rainforests.” -Indonesia and Malaysia, the world’s
June 24, 2019
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(Jakarta Post) The River, Lake and Water Transportation Operators Association (Gapasdap) has expressed its disapproval of next year’s mandatory use of diesel mixed with 30 percent palm oil-based fuel, known as B30, after finding the poor performance of its ships after using the biofuel. Gapasdap secretary-general Aminuddin Rifai said that ships
June 20, 2019
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by M. Fikri/Eliswan Azly (AntaraNews.com) Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the 100 percent biodiesel program (B-100), now being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, will save up to Rp100 trillion in foreign exchange once it is widely used. “We can save foreign exchange, may be IDR 100 trillion or more,”
June 19, 2019
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by Bernadette Christina and Fransiska Nangoy (EuroNews/Reuters) Indonesia on Thursday began testing biodiesel with a bio-content of 30% in cars, its energy ministry said, as the Southeast Asian nation pushes to boost local markets for its vast palm oil crop. The world’s top palm oil exporter aims to make it mandatory for all
June 13, 2019
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by Marta Gomez San Juan, Anne Bogdanski and Olivier Dubois (Food and Agricultural Organization) … )T)his report offers lessons from 26 case studies of sustainable bioeconomy interventions from around the world and from a range of different sectors. The overall aim of the report is to use these case studies to expand the general understanding of
June 11, 2019
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(The Sun Daily/Bernama) Poland is against the European Union’s (EU) proposed plan to ban the use of palm oil as a component of biofuels, and stressed that the republic does not intend to reduce the demand for Malaysian palm oil. Polish Ambassador to Malaysia Professor Krzysztof Debnicki said that Poland –
May 29, 2019
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(BASF) Sustainability project in Lampung, Indonesia launched; Program to encompass 1,000 independent Indonesian smallholder farmers — BASF, The Estée Lauder Companies and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) are partnering with the civil society organization Solidaridad to promote sustainable palm oil and palm derivatives production in the district of Waykanan, Lampung, Indonesia.
May 29, 2019
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How do you know a company is telling the truth about their sustainability claims? How do you know that biofuel X really achieves an 80% GHG emissions savings over fossil fuels? … Well, certifications are one way to help gauge transparency, honesty, verification. And there’s been some
May 29, 2019
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(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol could generate significant cost savings while boosting octane in fuel supplies in Indonesia. That’s the message the U.S. Grains Council and its partners are conveying to Indonesian importers and government agencies to promote increased ethanol use in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing gasoline
May 28, 2019
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(Rainforest Foundation Norway) Norway’s consumption of palm oil biodiesel saw a 70 percent drop from 2017 to 2018. “A big win for rainforests and the climate. Now the rest of Europe must follow suit”, says Rainforest Foundation Norway. … The all-time high consumption of palm oil based fuels in Norway in
May 14, 2019
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(Michigan Technological University/Science Codex) What is the genetic basis for eucalyptus trees to produce that fragrant oil many of us associate with trips to the spa? Carsten Külheim, associate professor in Michigan Technological University’s School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has spent the past 10 years of his career studying eucalyptus.
May 10, 2019
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(Jakarta Post) The South Jakarta Environment Agency has collected used cooking oil from households and turned it into alms. The agency teamed up with Kutub Social House Foundation to pick up used cooking oil in jerrycans across the municipality, where people could donate their used cooking oil rather than throwing it out.
May 9, 2019
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by Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman (Jakarta Post) Stakeholders comprising private and state institutions will kick off a maiden road test for vehicles using diesel fuel containing 30 percent palm oil-based biofuel, known as B30 biofuel, at the end of this month. The road test, which will involve carmakers such as Nissan, Toyota, Isuzu
May 8, 2019
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(Bloomberg Quint) Franky Widjaja, head of one of the world’s biggest palm plantation companies, warned that the European Union’s plans to restrict use of the tropical oil in biofuel will misfire … READ MORE Major palm oil player says EU’s karma will suffer and eventually will have to compromise on ban
May 7, 2019
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by Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) Tesla Inc expects global shortages of nickel, copper and other electric-vehicle battery minerals down the road due to underinvestment in the mining sector, the company’s global supply manager for battery metals told an industry conference on Thursday, according to two sources. … The copper industry has suffered from
May 3, 2019
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(Reuters/The Star Online) The Indonesia Biodiesel Producers Association (APROBI) estimates the country may export up to 2 million kilolitres (kl) of unblended biodiesel in 2019 in an “optimistic scenario”, Vice Chairman Paulus Tjakrawan told reporters on Thursday. In a “pessimistic scenario”, he said biodiesel exports this year would be around 1
May 3, 2019
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by Ida Nadirah Ibrahim (Malay Mail) The federal government has allocated RM5 million insurance for vehicles fuelled with B10 biodiesel, which contains 10 per cent palm oil. Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said consumers can claim the insurance if proven that the vehicle engine has broken down as a result of
April 30, 2019
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by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) While ethanol’s coproducts are well-known to the livestock industry, innovative technologies and processes are opening new markets for dried distillers grains with solubles. The aquaculture industry is one of those new markets, and a partnership between White Dog Labs and Midwest Renewable Energy LLC positions
April 19, 2019
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by Afiq Aziz (The Malaysian Reserve) … The aviation sector can play a crucial role in boosting Malaysian palm oil, which has been saddled with discrimination in the West, low prices and high inventory. As debates are still ongoing on palm oil fuel for vehicles, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)
April 19, 2019
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(Jakarta Post) Amid low demand and the price decrease of crude palm oil (CPO) in the global market, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has advised oil palm tree growers to grow durian trees, as he believes the commodity has good prospects. Jokowi said oil palm tree growers needed to diversify their business with
April 10, 2019
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EU Forests Regulation Public Consultation – Indonesia Responds
(Indonesia Palm Oil Facts) Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has made its submission to the EU Forests Regulation public consultation on reducing deforestation and forest degradation. As background, the European Commission is proposing a Due Diligence regulation to tackle deforestation / forest degradation with the aim to prevent European imports and consumption ‘causing’ deforestation, particularly from tropical