Vietnam plans VND259.2B for bio-fuel development through 2015

The government of Vietnam plans to invest VND259.2 billion (US$13.319 million) for a bio-fuel development plan in the 2007-2015 period, and vision for further development through 2025.

Between 2007 and 2010, the country targets to develop trial models of producing bio-fuel with a capacity of 100,000 tons of E5 and 50,000 tons of B5 annually, to feed 0.4% of the national demand.

By 2015, the nation will strive to produce 250,000 tons of ethanol and vegetable oil to satisfy 1% of the national petroleum demand.

The Southeast Asian country will explore ways to produce 1.8 million ton of the products through 2025 to feed 5% of the national need.

It targets to develop distribution networks for the products nationwide mainly in big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by 2025.

Recently, Dong Xanh Joint Stock Company held a ceremony to announce the first locally-made ethanol-blended gasoline in Vietnam. The firm’s Dai Tan ethanol production plant, located in the central province of Quang Nam, churned out the first batch of the fuel comprising 5% of 99.7% ethanol and 95% of A92 gasoline in September 2009 during its trial run, and has started commercial production since July 2010.

Meanwhile, the state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has started selling bio-gasoline (gasohol E5) at 20 petroleum stations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong City, Hai Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces since Aug 1.

Tags: Vietnam bio-fuel development, Vietnam bio-fuel