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Viewing cable 07MANILA531, Promoting Biofuels to Reduce Imports, Boost Local

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07MANILA531 2007-02-15 08:20 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Manila
VZCZCXRO9808
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #0531/01 0460820
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150820Z FEB 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5276
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASEAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000531 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES, EB/IFD/OIA, EB/ESC AND EAP/PMBS 
DOE FOR TOM CUTLER 
TREASURY FOR JVELTRI 
STATE PASS USAID FOR AA/ANE, AA/G 
STATE PASS EXIM, OPIC AND USTR 
USDOC FOR 4430 ITA/MAC/ASIA & PAC/KOREA & SE ASIA/ASEAN 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG SENV EINV RP
SUBJECT: Promoting Biofuels to Reduce Imports, Boost Local 
Agriculture and Investment 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  The newly-signed Biofuels Act of 2006 mandates oil companies in 
the Philippines to blend minimum levels of biofuels into gasoline 
and diesel and offers financial incentives for investment in and 
production of biofuels.  The bill aims to reduce the Philippines' 
dependence on imported fuel, generate income and employment in the 
agricultural sector, and improve environmental quality.  U.S. oil 
distribution and auto manufacturing companies applaud the 
legislation but recommend a longer implementation period to ease 
adjustment.  Despite widespread enthusiasm for biofuel potential, 
questions remain about economic efficiency and the impact on coconut 
and sugar markets.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------------ 
Provisions of the Biofuels Act 
------------------------------ 
 
2. The Biofuels Act, signed into law on January 12, 2007, encourages 
the evelopment and use of indigenous renewable, clean nergy to 
reduce the country's dependence on impoted oil, increase rural 
investment and employmen, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions 
without hrting the natural ecosystem and agricultural commoity 
markets.  The law requires that within threemonths all diesel 
engine fuels must contain a miimum of 1% biodiesel and within two 
years all blnded gasoline must contain a minimum of 5% ethanol. 
 
3. The new law also provides incentives to spurthe production, 
distribution, and use of biofuel.  These include exemption from 
specific tax on ocal or imported biofuels; exemption from Value 
dded Tax on the sale of raw biofuels production matrials; and 
exemption from wastewater charges forresulting water effluents. 
Philippine governmentfinancial institutions will give priority 
financng to Filipino citizens and qualified Filipino-ownd 
companies engaged in the production, storage, hndling, and 
transport of biofuels and feedstock. 
 
4. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates tha using 1% biodiesel 
and 5% bioethanol will save onsumers $167 million annually.  The 
estimated svings rises to $400 million per year if the mandatoy 
blends are increased to 10% for bioethanol and 2% for biodiesel, as 
many project, but depend critically on oil and other price 
assumptions which are highly speculative.  The DOE will chair an 
eight-member Biofuel Board to consult other agencies and 
stakeholders in formulating the bill's Implementing Rules and 
Regulations (IRRs) and monitor the implementation of the National 
Biofuel Program. 
 
5.  Passage of the Act represents a significant milestone following 
several years of USG efforts to promote biofuel as a means to 
increase energy security and reduce vehicle emissions in the 
country's heavily polluted urban areas.  USG efforts, spearheaded in 
the Mission by USAID and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, 
will continue with the formulation of the Act's IRRs.  Past USG 
activities and future plans for support on biofuels will be 
described septel. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Biofuel Projects in the Pipeline 
-------------------------------- 
 
6. The Philippine Board of Investments is reviewing 20 biofuel 
production plant projects that would bring a total investment of 
about $700 million (15 ethanol plants at $40 million each and 5 
biodiesel plants at $24 million each).  The Department of 
Agriculture identified 200,000 hectares of land that could be used 
to expand sugar production for ethanol.  The $30 million San Carlos 
ethanol and power plant in Negros Occidental, constructed in 
anticipation of legislated incentives for ethanol use, is expected 
to begin producing 100,000 liters per day (30 million liters per 
year) this summer.  Meanwhile, Manila-based Chemrez Technologies 
inaugurated a $13 million biodiesel plant in May 2006 that will 
increase its annual production by 60 million liters, also to take 
advantage of the expected expansion in local and regional biodiesel 
markets. 
 
7.  The Chinese have invested in five cassava and sugar ethanol 
projects in the Philippines for export to China and use in the 
Philippines.  The Japanese offered ASEAN $2 billion to train 1,500 
 
MANILA 00000531  002 OF 002 
 
 
engineers and researchers for biofuels research and development of 
energy-saving technologies.  The 
Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area 
(BIMP-EAGA) has likewise started talks on cooperative biofuel 
development projects and harmonizing standards. 
 
----------------- 
Industry Concerns 
----------------- 
 
8. Petron Corporation, a major oil refiner partly owned by the 
Philippine government, is seeking a one-year transition period for 
the implementation of the Biofuels Act of 2006.  The oil firm cited 
technical difficulties and liability issues with the untested 
introduction of blending biodiesel from coconut.  Petron also raised 
concerns about the coconut supply and the new law's impact on 
coconut prices.  Chevron executives publicly applauded the 
legislation but shared these concerns, noting that coco methyl-ester 
absorbs water so pipelines and tanks must be completely free of 
moisture.  Chevron tells us it needs at least nine months to deplete 
its stockpile of gasoline and replace it with blends.  The company 
preferred a two-year transition period for biodiesel to coincide 
with ethanol and allow time for testing and infrastructure changes. 
 
9. Ford Philippines is pleased with the passage of this law.  The 
company invested $20 million in 2005 in its plant in Laguna to 
introduce a production line for flexible fuel engines.  The new cars 
can run on unleaded gasoline with ethanol blends of up to 20%. 
Chairman Henry Co told econoff he is selling the flex-fuel cars at 
the same price as the regular models to encourage the shift to 
ethanol.  He just received an order for 24 flex-fuel cars from 
General Electric so Ford is starting to see tangible benefits from 
the company's investment.  Co said the GRP should announce any 
long-term intention to increase biofuel use so car manufacturers and 
owners have time to adjust. 
 
KENNEY