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Bureau of Energy launches plan to curb fossil fuel use

To reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, 1 percent of biodiesel will be blended with automotive diesel fuel sold in Taiwan, effective next Tuesday, the Bureau of Energy said yesterday.

The bureau said using 1 percent of biodiesel was equal to reducing 1 percent of dependence on fossil fuels.

Through the policy, the bureau estimates it would help reduce annual fossil diesel fuel use by 38.5 million liters, which is equivalent to 1 million barrels of imported crude.

BENEFITS

As for the environmental benefits, the bureau said the policy would lower emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 126,000 tonnes per year, or the equivalent of planting 5.1 million trees or building 130 Da-an Forest Parks (大安森林公園).

“The bureau is confident that the use of 1 percent biodiesel will not create any problems over vehicle compatibility, consumers’ rights and material resources,” Yeh Huey-ching (葉惠青), director-general of the Bureau of Energy, said at a press conference yesterday.

QUESTIONS

Asked whether the use of biodiesel would cause any engine compatibility issues, Yeh said the bureau had not received any complaints since 297 gas stations in Taoyuan County and Chiayi City and county began selling B1 (1 percent biodiesel) in July last year.

To avoid competition between food and fuel supplies, the bureau said edible waste oil would be used as the main source of domestic biodiesel production.

Although the use of 1 percent biodiesel would add NT$0.1 per liter to the cost, Yeh said it would be absorbed by local oil refiners and will not be reflected in domestic diesel retail prices.

CRUDE, COAL

Separately, the nation’s crude-oil imports fell 18 percent in May from a year earlier, while overseas purchases of coal increased 6.8 percent, Bureau of Energy data showed.

Crude imports dropped to 4.09 million kiloliters in May, or about 26 million barrels. Coal imports climbed to 5.47 million tonnes, the bureau said on its Web site.

additional reporting by Bloomberg
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