Feature: Large-scale coconut biodiesel production in Ilocos Norte, first in the world

By Carlo P. Canares

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (10 August) — North Luzon, particularly the province of Ilocos Norte boasts of not just the country’s but the world’s first large scale coconut plantation intended solely for the production of coconut bio-fuel as an alternative energy resource.

The Arroyo administration is promoting indigenous energy exploration to protect the country from shocks brought about by volatile imported fuel prices and help solve the global problem on climate change.

Some 400,000 hectares of land in North Luzon, majority of which will be in the villages of Balaoi, Caparispisan and Caunayan in the town of Pagudpud, will be developed and planted with coconut trees to secure the supply of coconut oil for domestic market demand and sustain exports.

Not only will there be development of alternative fuels but also reforestation that promotes cleaner, fresher air; protect and restore the environment and absorb carbon dioxide.

A Coconut Bio-fuel energy plant, covering 9 hectares of land, will rise in the coastal town of Pasuqin in the province of Ilocos Norte. The coconut oil mill and biodiesel plant will produce at least 2,000 tons of coconut oil per month with provisions of up to 25,000 tons; and 300,000 tons of coconut biodiesel annually.

The first phase of the project is for the construction of the Coconut Oil Mill plant. Covering an estimated 4.5 hectares, it will consist of a copra warehouse, copra milling section, coconut oil refinery section, copra cake section, storage tanks, administration offices and port facility. The second phase is the construction of the Coconut biodiesel plant and Coconut shell charcoal processing plant and will cover another 4.5 hectares of land.

The bio-fuel power project is one way of solving the problem of climate change because the use of coconut bio-diesel will contribute to the reduction of green house gas emissions in the atmosphere.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has repeatedly stressed that climate change is already adversely affecting the world and will have catastrophic effects if immediate and sufficient actions to curb fossil fuel emission and forest loss are not taken.

Bio-fuel is any fuel derived from organic matter. It is a renewable source of energy unlike other resources such as petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels. One advantage of biofuel in comparison with most fuel types is its biodegradability, thus its handling and use is relatively harmless to the environment.

The bio-fuel coconut oil project will secure the region’s – and the country’s – own source of alternative fuel and lessen dependence on imported fossil fuels. It will also mean job creation and economic upturn for various related industries.

The bio-fuel/coconut oil project will cost P3.5 billion of which P500 million will be for land and infrastructure while the remaining P3 billion will be for plantation of coconut trees, including provisions for livelihood and employment, farm supplies, fertilizers, seedlings, etc. (PIA Ilocos Norte)