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    Ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has accepted defeat in the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential poll and pledges to go into political opposition and renounce violence. The elections in the DRCongo come after 10 years of a continental war that took an estimated 4.5 million lives, making it the worst conflict since WWII. The successful poll is seen as the most important election in Africa for decades. The DRCongo, a country the size of Western Europe, is the world's second largest potential bioenergy producer, after Brazil. AlertNet - Nov. 28, 2006.

    Consultant and green ally C. Scott Miller takes an interesting approach to gathering and organising information on the growing bioeconomy. In three separate blogs, he looks at (1) feedstock issues (BIOStock Blog), at (2) technologies for the conversion of feedstocks (BIOconversion Blog) and finally he looks at (3) the different products that come out of these processes, from fibres and fuels, to bioplastics and green chemicals (BIOoutput Blog. - Biopact team - Nov. 26, 2006.

    According to Radio Chine Internationale, the leading Sino-French radio broadcaster, an offial of the Chinese Commission for Development and Reform stated that in 2010 more than half of China's total gasoline consumption will consist of ethanol. The official made the announcement at an international renewable energy conference, held in Beijing on november 12th. Biopact is seeking confirmation from an independent source that attended this conference. Radio Chine Internationale - Nov. 20, 2006.

    Aldwych International, an energy company focusing on emerging markets, is in negotiations with Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority to build a 50MW biomass plant to help the country overcome its current energy crisis. New Vision (Kampala) - Nov. 17, 2006.

    A number of states in Northeastern India is organising a beauty pageant, called 'Miss Jatropha Northeast 2006', aimed at attracting attention to the energy crop and at educating a larger audience about biofuels. The event is organised by 'Friends for the Future', a non-profit involved in promoting biofuels. E-Pao - Nov. 17, 2006.

    China's Ministry of Agriculture has sent 50 technicians to rural Tibet to introduce biogas energy to 630 households. The $1.25 million project also resulted in the training of 224 Tibetan biogas technicians. CCTV China - Nov. 17, 2006.

    Northern Ireland company Balcas Ltd plans to build a £24 million 5MW combined heat-and-power biomass plant in Northern Scotland to produce electricity. Scotsman - Nov. 17, 2006.

    Industrial Biotechnology Corporation announced it has signed a manufacturing distribution and cooperation letter of intent with Tianjin ZhongAo Group, a leading Chinese PRC private-owned holding company, for exclusive manufacturing and distribution of up to 600,000 metric tons of ethanol per year. Market Wire - Nov. 13, 2006.

    Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered ministries and agencies to create frameworks to boost domestic biofuel output to 6 billion liters per year, 10% of Japan's total gasoline consumption. The Japan Times - Nov. 11, 2006.

    Ethablog's Henrique Oliveira publishes an exclusive interview with leading Brazilian biofuels consultant Marcelo Coelho about energy efficiency, Brazil's competitive advantages, biofuel investments, geopolitics and more. EthaBlog - Nov. 9, 2006.

    First ever conference looks at the potential of biofuels in Africa. The Biofuels Markets Africa event will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from november 30 to december 1, 2006. Guest speakers from African business, government and non-governmental organisations shed a light on the challenges of creating a biofuels industry on the continent. Speakers from Brazil, India and Europe present their experiences in the sector as well. Check it out at: GreenPowerConferences.

    Voting is under way in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in one of Africa's most significant elections for many decades. Congo is potentially the world's second biggest 'biofuels superpower', with enormous untapped land resources, a favorable tropical climate and millions of farmers ready to start producing for the international market. After 3 decades of misrule and a decade of civil war, the country is gradually rebuilding itself. BBC News - October 29, 2006.

    Novozymes AS and US partner Broin are to collaborate in the development of ethanol from cellulosic biomass. Forbes - October 26, 2006.

    Alcar Chemicals Group Inc. announces patent filing for bioconversion process that turns agricultural waste and non-food biomass into raw materials for bioplastics to be used in the production of petroleum-free polyethylene, PET, polyester and polyurethane resins and more. Market Periscope - October 25, 2006.

    Government of Malawi announces increased cooperation with India and Brazil to develop biofuel industry in search for oil independence. Daily Times Malawi - October 25, 2006.

    The government of India plans a series of tax sops like excise and import duty exemptions to promote the use of bio-diesel and ethanol in auto fuel. Andhra Cafe - October 24, 2006.

    A Brazilian company that powers a quarter of all buses in Latin America's largest city, São Paulo, has started using biofuels in its fleet counting 1900 vehicles. The fuel is a blend of 30 percent biodiesel, 8 percent alcohol and 62 percent petroleum diesel Planet Save - October 22, 2006.

    According to Research and Markets, the biofuels industry in the US is growing at a rate of 25 to 50% a year. New entrants enter the field constantly and new technology breakthroughs are frequent. Federal and state government subsidies and loan guanrantees keep barriers to entry relatively low. Business Wire - October 20, 2006.

    Four in five U.S. adults (80%) strongly or somewhat agree that national and state governments are not doing enough to promote production of biofuels -- fuels made from agricultural crops or plant matter -- according to a new survey released today by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, also found that 82% of adults say national and state governments should provide financial incentives to biofuels producers to encourage the production and availability of biofuels. More than two out of three adults (69%) would use American-made biofuels even if these fuels cost slightly more than conventional gas. And more than eight of every 10 (84%) say they would be at least somewhat likely to support federal and state political candidates who favor providing incentives to promote increased production and availability of biofuels throughout the United States. Azom - October 19, 2006.

    Italian company Novamont is building what it calls 'the world's first biorefinery' in Terni. It will use local biomass resources from 600 farmers to make 60,000 tons of 100% biodegradable plastics, as well as biofuels in one and the same facility. Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - October 18, 2006.

    The world's biggest instant noodle maker, Indofood, says that its edible oils division plans to buy majority stakes in three palm oil plantations giving it sufficient raw material to enter the emerging biofuels sector. AP-Foodtechnology - October 17, 2006.


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Thursday, November 30, 2006

The EU announces its new science budget, energy research gets small share

Quicknote bioenergy science
The European Parliament has approved the €54 billion (US$71.6 billion) plan to boost science research in Europe as part of the so-called Lisbon Strategy aimed at strengthening economic growth, competitiveness and employment. The Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is designed to support several priority areas of research.

Of the different research categories [interactive map], information technology gets the biggest chunk of funding, with a €9.1 billion budget, while research into climate change and energy have received a comparatively small amount of funding in the plan.

The Parliament gave the go-ahead to the plan on Thursday at its second reading. FP7 is due to be formally adopted by the EU on 5 December. The programme is due to run from 2007 to 2013.

It is difficult to analyse what this budget allocation means for the development of Europe's bioeconomy, but if the science fields that make up this broad concept are combined (energy, environment, transport and biotechnology), then the funding is considerable.

Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community (which is formally an institution distinct from the European Community), gets €2.7 billion for nuclear research, including additional funds for ITER, the fusion project.

Over the coming days we will be researching the details of the budgets as they relate to biofuels, bioenergy and international cooperation on this front [entry ends here].
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posted by Biopact team at 6:57 PM  

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