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NAVIGATE: Home » All Entries, Main Stories, Press Releases & Statements » Arroyo Bats for an Energy-Independent Philippines

Arroyo Bats for an Energy-Independent Philippines

PUBLISHED ON January 18, 2008 AT 4:42 AM

Amid the steep prices of oil in the world market and its adverse impact on the people especially the poor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today her administration has set its goal of moving the country towards energy independence by embarking on programs geared towards the development of renewable and indigenous sources of energy.

In her message early this afternoon at the 5th Biennial Convention and 10th Anniversary celebration of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. at Manila Hotel’s Centennial Ballroom, the President expressed determination to wean away the country from its dependence on imported crude oil by developing the country’s natural sources of energy that would include solar, wind, natural gas, biofuels, among others.

“Perhaps even more pressing are the issue of energy independence and the price of foreign oil. We are bound and determined to move the Philippines toward energy independence based on heavy investments in biofuels, geothermal, wind, solar and other alternative sources of energy.”

The President however stressed that efforts towards developing renewable and alternative sources of energy must stand alongside conservation.

Thus, the President said during the Energy Summit she asked to be convened late this month until early February, the government and the energy stakeholders would craft a blueprint for the country’s energy future.

“Out of these meetings, we will develop a blueprint”or more aptly a greenprint for the energy future of our nation.”

But more important for now, the President said, is the solution to the pain the poor feel due to impact of high oil prices in the world market.

“The poor among us suffer the most due to the high price of global oil, so any program we initiate will focus not just on energy independence in the long run, but to relieve the pain of energy cost in the short run,” the President said.

The President added that how this could be done “is an open question” but vowed to “do everything in our power to share the burden and relieve the poor from bearing the biggest burden.”

Oil prices in the world market reached historic heights to $100 per barrel level during the past few weeks.

The Philippines produces only 10 percent of its fuel demand that in 2006, the country’s total oil import stood at 100.8 million barrels with a total cost of $6.8 billion.

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3 Responses to “Arroyo Bats for an Energy-Independent Philippines”

  1. Jahnie Marzan Says:

    Wisdom may come late, but it’s seldom never arrives.

    The administration”s bio-dieselization program recently took a good beating from various news reports.

    The damning messages: bio-diesel is to be more of pain in the neck than as manna from heaven. It looks like a long shot, But like one helplessly adrift in an ocean of energy problems, we try to reach for any floating straw to keep our chain above water.

    This is to inform the uninformed “technocrats”. The reason why the Philippines is very much behind in the development of agricultural lands compared to Vietnam and/or Thailand, aside from handicapped of farm Implements, the Philippines were only able to cultivate nine (9) million hectares of agricultural land despite having sixteen (16) million hectares of fertile farm lands. Vietnam was able to cultivate potentially nine (9) million hectares from their twelve (12) million hectares of agricultural lands. Thailand fully cultivated twelve (12) million hectares from their fourteen (14) hectares of agricultural lands.

    You Want The Truth? Can We Handle The Truth?

    Few Good Men — the movie! “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth.”

    Are we just doing the best that we can? Or we did our best, but our best is not enough!

    CAUTION/WARNING
    DUBIOUS PNS 2020:2003 & BIO-DIESEL TECHNOLOGY?http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=73028&catID=9

    It is sad to note that BIO-FUELS (bio-ethanol & bio-diesel) are nothing but a petrol-base fuel ADDITIVES. http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=136581&catID=5

    An Act to direct the use of Bio-fuels, 13th Congress, Hose Bill No. 1347 of 2006

    SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Biofuels Act of 1 2006.”

    SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.
    As used in this Act, the following terms shall be taken to mean as follows:

    d) Biodiesel – shall refer to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters
    derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and other biomass-derived oils that
    shall be technically proven and approved by the DOE for use in diesel
    engines, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National
    Standards (PNS);

    e) Bioethanol Fuel – shall refer to hydrous or anhydrous bioethanol
    suitably denatured for use as motor fuel, with quality specifications in
    accordance with the PNS;

    Therefore, BIO-DIESEL is made thru Esterification, otherwise known as Coconut Methy Esterification (CME).

    Bio-fuels could be misleading notions in terms of finding/formulating a “genuine” bio, eco and/or environment-friendly fuel — possibly a renewable source of an energy. It’s a misnomer indeed to come-up with an alternative energy that the same would contain inorganic petrol-base (methanol & ethanol) and acidic/toxic Sodium/ Potassium Hydroxide Catalytic Reactant, that could lead to corrosion and damage on engine parts. This is not to mention the contamination of (layers) underground oils.

    Bio-diesel is just for mixture at 5%-20% to petro-diesel. If it goes beyond 10-percent or 20-percent use, it will not be good for the vehicle. “We cannot use 100 percent (B100) of coco fuel in the engine” according to Usec. Eduardo Mañalac, former Usec., of the Department of Energy, now is the President of PNOC.” Thursday, March 11, 2004 @10:12 PM GMT – 12-Baguio testing use of coconut fuel Ecology.

    Bio-ethanol is just a mixture of 10% ethanol & 90% petro-gasoline. It would not be good also for the engine if the mixture would go beyond 35% because it will eat-up the rubber and plastic parts of the engine, thus increases the engine temperature.

    Petroleum Based Fuel Adulteration?

    On the product Standardization of Petrol-Fuel Oils, International Trade Standard Specification, the general requirement stipulates – “The fuel oil specified herein shall be hydrocarbon oils FREE from INORGANIC ACIDS and FOREIGN MATTER.”

    QUESTION:
    Are Methanol, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ester, Potassium/Sodium Hydroxides are not inorganic — Foreign Matters?

    Accordingly Biodiesel – shall refer to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and other biomass-derived oils that shall be technically proven and approved by the DOE for use in diesel engines, with quality specifications in accordance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS);

    Health and safety:
    Methanol is intoxicating but not directly poisonous. It is toxic by its breakdown (toxication) by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver by forming formic acid and formaldehyde which cause blindness by destruction of the optic nerve. Methanol ingestion can also be fatal due to its CNS depressant properties in the same manner as ethanol poisoning. It enters the body by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. Fetal tissue will not tolerate methanol.

    FATTY ACID METHYL ESTER [FAME] IFICATION or Trans [ester] ification

    Transesterification
    In organic chemistry, transesterification is the process of exchanging the alkoxy group of an ester compound by another alcohol. These reactions are often catalyzed by the addition of an acid or base.

    Rancidification
    Rancidification is the decomposition of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis and/or oxidation. Hydrolysis will split fatty acid chains away from the glycerol backbone in glycerides. These free fatty acids can then undergo further auto-oxidation. Oxidation primarily occurs with unsaturated fats by a free radical-mediated process.

    Redox(Redirected from Oxidation)

    Redox reactions include all chemical processes in which atoms have their oxidation number (oxidation state) changed.

    This can be a simple redox process, such as the oxidation of carbon to yield carbon dioxide, it could be the reduction of carbon by hydrogen to yield methane (CH4), or a complex process such as the oxidation of sugar in the human body, through a series of very complex electron transfer processes.

    The term redox comes from the two concepts of reduction and oxidation. It can be explained in simple terms:

    Oxidation describes the loss of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion

    Reduction describes the gain of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion

    Combustion of hydrocarbons, e.g. in an internal combustion engine, produces water, carbon dioxide, some partially oxidized forms such as carbon monoxide and heat energy. Complete oxidation of materials containing carbon produces carbon dioxide.

    Links: http://peakoil.com/gate.html?name=News&file=article&thold=-1&mode=flat&order=0&sid=15553
    http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=73028&catID=9
    http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=136580&catID=5
    http://www.enkocogreengold.zoomshare.com/album/ENKOCO%20Greengold%20not%20a%20BIO-FUEL!/images/98bb5bcf2d55746bd421c3a5d7c38d20_11705857610/:album?css=/lib/style/type_album.css&css=/lib/style/arial.css

  2. moses Says:

    here’s the website on how to make biodiesel..it sounds so easy..but above comment says its hard or even impossible. but biodiesel really works..even in B100..

    kindly check this website and red :

    http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/

  3. moses Says:

    sorry for i mispelled read…as red.

    the recipe is methanol and Lye..for mixing in used cooking oil..what is common here in Philippines are coconut oil..so i think its our main source of Oil for conversion.some focus to jatropa planting, why not use coconut? in 100 hectares of jatropa the output is very minimal compare with 100 hectares of coconut tree.

    we can start with those used from restaurants.
    but not sure were to buy those two main ingredients..

    people in US are using this biodeisel for their own use. for a long time now.
    Filipino’s are one of the best..but some are limiting our knowledge..thanks we have internet now.

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