Diesel to contain 3% coco methyl ester blend starting Oct. 1 —DOE

Diesel fuel will now contain 1% more coco methyl ester (CME) blend, from 2% to 3%, starting October 1 in a bid to decrease dependence on imported fuels and to support local biodiesel sectors, according to the Department of Energy.

Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said the department circular released in May was in compliance with the Biofuels Act of 2006 that mandates that all liquid fuels for motors and engines sold in the Philippines be blended with biofuels.

“Ito ay isang programa para mai-rollout nang dahan-dahan yung pagtaas  ng ating blend ng biodiesel,” he told Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Tuesday. “Sa pagtataas ng blend, dumadami ang pangangailangan para sa coconut oil, sa coconuts. Ito ay diretsang tulong sa ating mga coconut farmers by providing that market.”

(This program seeks to roll out the gradual increase in biodiesel blend. When we increase the blend, there will be more demand for coconut oil and coconuts. This will directly help our coconut farmers by providing them a market.) 

The CME percentage blend will then increase to 4% by October 1, 2025, and ultimately to 5% by October 1, 2026. 

“Minabuti natin na dahan-dahan, taon taon ang pagtaas para rin yung mga nagpo-proseso nating mga biorefineries, makasabay rin, hindi yung biglaan,” said Sales. 

(We decided on a gradual yearly increase of the blend so that our biorefineries will not have a hard time.)

The Energy Department official said the increase in CME blend may lead to less than 1% increase in the per liter price of diesel. But he noted that the more CME content translates to increased mileage for diesel-powered vehicles.

“Ito ay mahabang testing na halos 30,000 kilometers yung tinakbo. Makikita dun sa test na gumaganda ang mileage ng diesel ng sasakyan na habang tumataas ang biodiesel blend,” said Sales. “Kapag dumating ng B5 (5%), up to 10% ang increase sa mileage ng isang diesel engine.”

(The test was done with almost 30,000 kilometers of mileage. Based on the test, the mileage of the vehicle improves while you increase the biodiesel blend. When the blend reaches up the B5 level, the mileage of the vehicles increases up to 10%.)

Further, the policy to increase CME blend in diesel also seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Sa ating pagsisiyasat, lumalabas na sa isang porsyento ng biodiesel mix, naibaba ng 0.65% ang emission. Dahil tinaas natin sa 3% ang biodiesel, bababa ang emission by almost 2%. Ito ay malaking din sa krisis na hinaharap natin sa climate change,” said Sales.

(Based on our research, the emission can be reduced by 0.65% per 1% of biodiesel mix. Now that we have raised the biodiesel blend to 3%, the emission can be reduced by almost 2%. This can really help us with our crisis in dealing with climate change.)

The transport sector is considered as one of the contributors of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Citing the the Climate Change Commission, the Philippine Statistics Authority last July said the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 204.33 teragrams of CO2 in 2020, a decline of 12.3% from the 232.99 teragrams of CO2 in 2015. —RF, GMA Integrated News