Biofuel producers seek market access

BIOFUEL producers, farmers and road hauliers have united to demand that the Government immediately reverse its policy which, in effect, excludes most producers of biofuel from the Irish market.

The Government’s decision to grant excise duty relief to a limited number of the State’s biofuel producers means those without this excise duty relief simply cannot compete, said Tom Bruton, Secretary of the Irish Bioenergy Association.

One particular biofuel, Pure Plant Oil (PPO), is particularly disadvantaged with some extra 5 million litres of PPO which could have been produced in Ireland being excluded from the market.

The Irish Bioenergy Association, the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) are campaigning for improved market access for indigenously produced biofuels, given the existing Pure Plant Oil processing capacity and the willingness of farmers to supply energy crops under contract for biofuel production.