I
distinctly remember that my primary school geography textbooks,
always described coconut tree as 'Tree of Life.' One that is useful
to us humans, in hundred ways. Besides the obvious uses of coconut
water for drinking and the pulp known as Copra in Indian cooking, the
textbooks described other uses for almost all the parts of this tree
of life. Copra, yields oil, which is used for cooking as well as
industrial and cosmetic purposes. The coconut husks are used to make
coir, which is used in making ropes, carpets and beds. The branches
are commonly used to cover the thatched roofing. The list is almost
endless. Starting from use of coconut shells as fuel, coconut trunks,
leaves, spathe, guinit and even roots are used in some way or other.
I
am very much reminded of my primary school textbooks after I came
across a news item about a new and novel use for the coconut oil
derived from Copra, discovered by scientists in Philippines. This
island archipelago faces Pacific ocean on east and South China Sea on
west and is spread between 5 Deg. North to about 18 Deg. North
Latitude. The weather is typically tropical, like most of the
countries in south east Asia. Naturally, coconut trees are found in
abundance in Philippines. It is therefore no wonder that Philippines
is the world’s largest producer and exporter country of coconuts.
Philippine
Coconut Authority pioneered research and experiments on the use of
coconut biodiesel as fuel in 1983 itself, when a project was
launched. Philippines became the first country in southeast Asia to
enact the Biofuels Act in 2007, to have a law promoting the use of
biofuels, created by blending of coconut oil and ethanol from sugar
cane to Diesel and Gasolene. PCA is making a push now to mix in, more
refined coconut oil with diesel. This should make diesel sold in the
country, cheaper and better for health and the environment.
As
per the 2007 Biofuels act, it is permissible for the oil companies to
mix up to 2% of coco methyl ester, derived from coconut oil, in
Diesel, to create a Diesel blend that can be sold to the public. It
is also stipulated by law that by 2015, the Diesel sold to public can
be blended with up to 5% of coco methyl ester. However, Philippine
Coconut Authority wants to reach the 5% mark by this year itself
(2013). They feel that this should create a 19.60 billion Philippine
Peso (PHP) market for refined coconut oil and save as much as PHP
15.5 billion on imported fuel. To prove their point, Philippines
government launched a 25-day study this week, which it hopes will
convince transport groups and a national board to increase the amount
of refined coconut oil that is blended in with diesel.
Blended
Diesel is the fuel used by public buses and transports presently in
Philippines. Besides public transport buses, the most popular mode of
transport in Philippines is known as a “Jeepney.” It is actually
a most gaudily decorated vechicle modeled after the U.S. Army jeeps
used during World War II. In the present 25 days test, seven jeepneys
will use a 2% blend for first five days, the level right now allowed
by law, followed by a 5% blend for the next 20 days. The jeepneys
will be tested for fuel economy, power efficiency and smoke emission
levels. PAC feels that this test will convince the national board to
immediately recommend a transition to the 5% coconut oil blend.
According
to PAC, with use of 5% blend, the visible cloud of black smoke
emitted by vehicles, which mainly consists of carbon and sulfur
particulates, would reduce by as much as 80%. Also every liter of
fossil diesel displaced by coconut biodiesel, would represent a
carbon dioxide reduction of 3.5 kilogram per liter of fuel used.
This
is all fine. But what about the economics? At present, things appear
lucrative because the price of coco methyl ester has been lower than
diesel in Philippines, which means that increasing the blend to 5%
would lower the cost of the fuel for the transport sector there. But
as demand increases for coconut oil, what is the guarantee that
coconut oil prices would remain stable. Even if they remain stable,
perhaps blended Diesel may remain an alternative for Philippines
alone. In India for example, bulk coconut oil prices are around 62
Rupees per Kilogram. Diesel blending with refined coconut oil may not
therefore work out to be profitable for the oil companies. Besides,
if use of refined coconut oil in blending Diesel become popular in
other countries, the international prices are bound to harden, which
would make the whole exercise quite futile.
1
August 2013
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