Ministry targets ten percent bio-fuel use in transportation by 2015

Shirley Wijesinghe

The Government has decided to develop Gliricidia planting as a fourth plantation of the country as a response to a Cabinet paper submitted by him Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tisa Vitarana said.

The above decision was taken by the Ministry after consideration of the future demand for bio- fuels in the country.

He was speaking after accepting the Interim Report of the Inter-Ministerial Working committee on implementing bio-fuel use in the country presented by Committee Chairman Prof. KKYW Perera at the Ministry Auditorium.

Prof. Vitarana said in a back drop of volatility of world energy markets, both on the way of supplies and prices, Sri Lanka will benefit substantially by developing alternative indigenously produced fuels which are more sustainable and environmentally benign. Such a policy will provide quantifiable benefits, which will be dependent on the choices made from several different options available for development.

Through a step-by-step action plan the Ministry intends to achieve the target of using bio-fuel for transport progressively beginning with as 1 percent in 2010, 2 percent in 2011, 4 percent in 2012, 6 percent in 2013, 8 percent in 2014 and 10 percent in 2015.

Making comments on the report Prof. Vitarana said that it recommends that the target share of bio- fuels in the transport sector should be 10 percent of total transport fuels by the year 2015. It also recommends all bio- fuels produced in the country for transport applications should confirm to the guidelines specified by the Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Ministry.

According to recommendations Ceylon Petroleum Corporation should be encourage to purchase all locally manufactured bio-fuels which confirm to above standards and blend them appropriately and market them through the normal channels to consumers.