Interview with Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency (IEA)

(World Refining Association) We expect alternative fuels will have an important role to play as we look to diversify supply, improve energy security and reduce emissions. Looking at the alternative fuels produced today, biofuels account for an overwhelming majority. Although production has surged in recent years, biofuels meet only about 2% of total road-transport demand (0.8 mb/d in 2008). We expect this production growth to be limited in the near term due to concerns over the effect on food prices, uncertainties regarding the greenhouse gas savings associated with their use, and doubts about their environmental sustainability. Additionally, the global economic downturn and readjustment of liquid fuels demand have lowered oil prices and reduced the profitability of biofuels and placed financial strain on many bio-refineries. However, despite present circumstances, we project world use of biofuels to recover in the longer term, ... READ MORE