V4+ Countries Warn of Ulterior Motives for Seeking Biofuel Blending Cuts in Eastern Europe
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Hungary, although the European Union committed to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels by 2020, one spectacular last subsidy is now in the works in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Biofuel producers from the V4+ countries say in some CEE Member States, governments are now considering suspending, or have already suspended, biofuel blending mandates as a response, suggested by parties unnamed, to the current crisis, a crisis that threatens to reduce demand for liquid fuels to 50%.
“Suspending biofuel mandates” is a polite way of saying “substituting oil for biofuels.” With a decline in overall liquid fuel demand, demand for biofuels will fall by an equivalent amount without any government action, which is already a problem for Europe’s economies. READ MORE
Biofuels associations advise EC caution over waivers (Argus Media)
Excerpt from Argus Media: European associations representing the biofuels supply chain have sent a letter today to the European Commission addressing potential waivers for biofuels blending mandates in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter, addressed to vice president for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and signed by seven associations including the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) and ePure is aimed at addressing possible mitigation measures. It said that certain EU states were “considering implementing derogations to their blending obligations”, although it did not outline which members were touting the plans.
It added that members were not experiencing any difficulty in meeting the existing and decreasing demand for biofuels and that any potential waiver on national blending obligations would result in “further strain on the availability of EU-produced protein supplies for livestock and hence impact animal production chains.”
The European biofuels industry is already severely affected by the sharp drop in fuel consumption and the corresponding decline in the demand for biofuels and by-products, the letter added. READ MORE
