Europe
seeks to boost biofuel drive
By Michael Thurston
AFP
BRUSSELS
Petroleumworld.com 02 09 06
The European Commission called Wednesday for new action to develop
biofuels, warning that soaring oil prices and a recent Russian
gas spat highlight the risks of relying on traditional power sources.
The European Union's executive arm urged EU governments to take
measures to expand large-scale consumer use of alternative energy
sources by developing "second generation" fuels more
efficient and cheaper than those currently available.
"There has never been a better moment to push the case for
biofuels," said EU Farm and Rural Development Commissioner
Mariann Fischer Boel.
"Crude oil prices remain high. We face stringent targets
under the Kyoto Protocol. And the recent controversy over imports
of Russian gas has underlined the importance of increasing Europes
energy self-sufficiency," she added.
The EU drive comes days after US President George W. Bush warned
in his State of the Union address that "America is addicted
to oil," also focusing on biofuels as crucial for future
energy needs.
The US leader, noting that oil is "often imported from unstable
parts of the world," set a target of cutting US imports from
the Middle East by 75 percent by 2025.
Crude oil prices have spiked back up to nearly 70 dollars a barrel
in recent weeks, fueled by continuing unrest in Iraq, escalating
tension over Iran and turmoil in the Middle East peace process.
Then the EU was alarmed last month when Russian giant Gazprom,
which supplies 25 percent of Europe's gas, turned off the taps
to Ukraine in a row over prices, with the immediate knock-on effect
of cutting supplies to Europe.
That standoff was resolved after a few days, but the risk was
underlined a short time later when supplies were also cut to Georgia
and Moldova, both also former Soviet republics on the expanded
EU's eastern flank.
Fischer Boel noted that European farmers could be harnessed to
help develop biofuels, renewable sources of energy which can be
made from agricultral produce including grain or crop waste.
"Raw materials for biofuel production also provide a potential
new outlet for Europe's farmers, who have been freed by (EU subsidy)
reform to become true entrepreneurs," she said.
In terms of new types of biofuel, the EU underlined the need to
support research into second generation products such as ligno-cellulosic
ethanol, Fischer-Tropsch biodiesel and bio-dimethyl ether (bio-DME).
In a strategy paper, the EU executive identified key aims including:
- stimulating demand from consumers
- boosting production.
- increasing research and production into "second generation"
fuels.
- increasing the range of raw materials.
- cutting greenhouse gases.
- supporting developing countries.
EU development commissioner Louis Michel added that the widening
use of biofuels also represents a potential opportunity for developing
countries, notably those affected by EU sugar industry reform.
"Many developing countries are naturally well placed for
the production of biofuel feedstocks. The expanding EU market
for biofuels will provide them with new export possibilities,"
he said, citing bioethanol as a potential product.
Nearly a quarter of greenhouse gases produced in Europe come from
vehicles, which are fueled almost exclusively by oil, the commission
noted. "It is therefore essential to find ways of reducing
emissions from transport."
AFP
02/08/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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