Decision No. 177, dated November 20, 2007, by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, approved the “Master Plan for Biofuel Development by 2015, with a Vision Towards 2025.” The vision for 2025 sets an ambitious target: to achieve advanced global standards in biofuel production technology. With a projected output of 1.8 million tons of ethanol and vegetable oil, the plan aims to meet approximately 5% of the country’s total demand for petroleum products.
Professor Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Council, speaking at the conference. |
At a recent scientific workshop titled “Promoting Green Energy Development: Current Status and Implementation Solutions,” organized by the Vietnam Economic Institute, Professor Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Council, shared an interesting insight. Despite Vietnam’s agricultural strengths, the country has faced setbacks in its efforts to produce biodiesel.
In a follow-up conversation with the *Labor Newspaper*, Professor Dr. Le Anh Tuan elaborated on biodiesel, also known as Bio-diesel. This type of fuel is derived from oil-bearing seeds such as Jatropha, sunflower, and rapeseed, as well as palm oil.
Over a decade ago, Vietnam embarked on a journey to produce biodiesel from Jatropha, but it ultimately ended in failure. “After five years of cultivation, it was discovered that the wrong tree species had been planted, resulting in a lack of fruit and, consequently, a lack of oil,” said Dr. Tuan.
Meanwhile, neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia have successfully produced biodiesel from palm oil and Jatropha.
According to the expert, biodiesel production offers multiple benefits, including increased income for farmers, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and a more secure fuel source compared to traditional fossil fuel extraction.
Of course, the higher cost of this type of fuel calls for supportive policies. These could include planning for dedicated planting areas, sustainable output support for businesses and farmers, and incentives to encourage the use of biodiesel.
Since 2015, Vietnam has seen the construction of seven bio-ethanol plants, with a combined projected production capacity of approximately 502,000 tons per year. This amount is sufficient to blend 8.46 million tons of E5 gasoline (a blend of 5% bioethanol and 95% traditional gasoline) if the plants operate at full capacity.
However, due to unfavorable world oil price fluctuations, small-scale production, outdated technology, limited use of cheaper raw materials, and inadequate utilization of by-products to reduce costs, the financial mechanisms of many projects have fallen short. As a result, the price of E5 gasoline has not been attractive enough to encourage widespread adoption, leading to a lack of consumer interest. Consequently, many bio-ethanol plants have struggled, with some even shutting down due to a lack of product demand and operational challenges.
Regarding E5 gasoline (a blend of 5% bioethanol and 95% traditional gasoline), surveys in major cities have revealed a decrease in the number of E5 gas stations as owners report slow sales.
Therefore, experts emphasize the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the current policies supporting and promoting biofuel development.
Lê Thúy
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