DOE may delay Biofuels Act implementation
Friday, March 09, 2007
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula
The Philippine Star 03/09/2007
The Department of Energy (DOE) is contemplating to delay the implementation of the Biofuels Act, the country’s top energy official said.
"We’re still looking for a convenient date for the rollout. May 6 is what we are thinking as this is three months after the effectivity of the law. But this date is close to the election period and we do not want the people to be distracted. We want a smooth implementation of the law," Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.
Lotilla said they have been weighing down factors that may affect the smooth implementation of the law.
"We have to take into account other matters. We have to assure a smooth transition," he said.
He said the National Biofuels Board (NBB) met recently to discuss these matters.
But Lotilla admitted that in the NBB meeting, there was no indication that the implementation of the Act which is expected on May 6 would be moved to a latter date.
"In our last meeting there was no recommendation to delay," he said.
The Biofuels Act, passed in January this year, was supposed to be implemented next month.
The biodiesel component of the Act, which calls for the one percent blend of the biodiesel, should be carried out three months after the effectivity of the law.
The five-percent ethanol blend, on the other hand, would be in place in two years’ time.
Oil companies are asking for a one-year delay to give them time to prepare their facilities to accommodate the biofuels products. But the DOE wants it implemented as dictated by the law.
posted by philpower @ 9:12 AM,
