Biodiesel firms face ruin
Britain’s biofuel industry is close to collapsing, according to one
company, which is millions of pounds in debt
14th June 2007

Bosses at Biofuels warned that the rising cost of vegetable oils,
which are used in the production of the firm’s bio-diesel, were to
blame for its £100million shortfall. Tough competition from the US
has also played a part.

Chief executive Sean Sutcliffe argued increased demand for food was
at the root of the problem. His Teesside business currently uses
edible rapeseed, soya and palm oils to produce its fuel. But he
stated: “China’s food requirements for soya alone increased from 22
to 29 per cent last year, pushing prices up.”

He added that huge subsidies handed out to US producers meant UK
firms also struggled to compete. “It’s threatening to shut down the
entire European biofuel industry,” he warned.

One solution is to use non-edible crops, such as the oil extracted
from Jatropha seeds. A spokesman for rival firm D1 Oils said: “This
doesn’t compete with food sources, so we’re not affected by the
rocketing price of vegetable oils.”

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209091/biodiesel_fi
rms_face_ruin.html

[Comments: Last comment is most Dangerous 1. In India and other
countries food farmers are under motivation to plant Jatropha by
presenting it as more profitable crop than traditional food crops.
In these countries food is more important than fuel. Last year India
imported wheat from Australia. Now instead of promoting food grains
and ignoring regular suicides of Indian farmers in order to satisfy
fistful of Jatropha promoters planners are making false propoganda
in favour of poisonous Jatropha. Really in this context one more
irresponsible saying of 'Dangerous One' is shocking. Not joking but
if possible moon is best place for them for such non ecofriendly
plantation of Jatropha, not this earth. We are much concerned that
in newspapers we have read that this company was involved in
Infamous Jatropha germplasm theft i.e. biopiracy.
http://www.grain.org/bio-ipr/?id=465 ]