S. Korea to raise proportion of biodiesel content in diesel fuel next year

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to increase the proportion of
biodiesel content in regular diesel fuel next year to help cut back on carbon
dioxide emissions and reduce minute particles released into the atmosphere, the
government said Sunday.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the proportion of plant and animal oil to
be mixed with diesel fuel will be raised to 2.0 percent next year from 1.5
percent at present.
It said the government will also waive the oil tax of 529 won (US$0.45) per liter
for diesel fuel next year due to the rise in biomass content.
Biodiesel is estimated to produce less greenhouse gas than common diesel fuel. It
also releases smaller quantities of minute dust particles that have been cited as
a weakness of diesel, which is more fuel-efficient than gasoline.
South Korea was the first Asian country to mix biodiesel with common diesel in
July 2006. In 2007, the biomass content of diesel sold in the country stood at
0.5 percent. The total was raised to 1.0 percent the following year.
Biodiesel mixed with petroleum-based diesel can be used in regular diesel-engined
cars without making any modifications.
The ministry in charge of the country's industrial and energy policy said that
raising the biomass content to 2 percent will require the production of 390,000
kiloliters of biodiesel next year.
Seoul has been pushing for policies that will allow it to grow more plants that
can produce biodiesel and has stepped up efforts to recycle vegetable-based
cooking oil and animal fat waste.
It said plans are underway to increase the percentage of biodiesel to regular
diesel to 5 percent after next year, and to push this up further to 20 percent
levels down the road.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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