Manila: The Philippine government is weighing the suspension of a planned increase in the country’s biodiesel blend, originally scheduled for implementation in October, amid concerns over a potential rise in fuel and coconut prices, reports Inquirer.Net.
Ma. Celia Raquepo, chief of the Philippine Coconut Authority’s Laboratory Services Division, said the National Biofuels Board (NBB) recently met and proposed halting the shift to a 4 percent blend, known as B4, which would require all diesel fuel to include 4 percent coco-methyl ester (CME), a biofuel made from coconut oil.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has previously stated that increasing the CME content in diesel fuels is part of the country’s efforts to promote cleaner energy and stimulate economic development.
However, Raquepo noted that the board’s recommendation was driven by concerns that the higher CME requirement could push up coconut prices, affecting both fuel costs and the local market.
The government is currently reviewing the proposal, with the final decision expected to balance environmental goals with the economic realities facing consumers and producers.
