THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DOST) last week signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to assess and identify research and development requirements of alternative fuels.
The DOST was represented by its sub-agency the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) while the PNOC was represented by its division Alternative Fuels Corporation (PAFC). Both will work on research and development on all aspects of alternative fuels, including biofuels, and will prepare a comprehensive research and development program from their current assessments.
The PAFC will also be granting a 10.7 million peso initial grant for the program, starting with the establishment of a pilot demonstration plant on the processing of the plant Jatropha Curcas plant as biofuel.
The DOST has been doing research on Jatropha for years but only implemented full-scale development for biofuel research for Jatropha late last year. The shrub is locally called tuba-tuba, tagumbao, sambo or tubang-bakod. Its seeds are the primary source of oil that can be used as biofuel.
The signatories to the MOU are PAFC president and CEO Peter Anthony Abaya and DOST Undersecretary for R & D Graciano Yumul.
The signing was witnessed by PCIERD Deputy Executive Director Raul Sabularse and PAFC executive Clovis Tupas.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:28 pm
[...] Inside Science: Science dep’t signs pact with PNOC for alternative fuel research [...]
May 2nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Jatophra! We already have an existing source for biofuel, coconuts. It will take much longer to get the harverst yield of jatophra to the levels of coco is today.
We should really be looking into making the raw coco to biofuel process more efficient. Beyond that, producing 100% biofuel, not the fractional blends on the market today.
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:03 pm
[...] Former Congressman Juan Miguel Zubiri started off with the passing into law of the Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act. This led to research and development programs of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) to identify alternative fuel sources. One such product that has potential is a local plant called Jatropha curcas, otherwise known as tuba-tuba or tubing-bakod, whose seeds produce the oil that can power up engines. [...]
May 30th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I salute my countrymen who care for the use of renewable energy. I myself am a sold out fan of the idea. It’s worth our effort for us who love our children, our grandchildren, our grandchildren’s children. Let us make them enjoy the environment and this world we’re enjoying now. After all, this world is God’s gift. Let us preserve it.