Market lacks methyl to meet Ministry projections for bio-diesel

The Agriculture Ministry estimates that in 2004 about 11.7 million tons of bio-diesel will be produced, and has presented a draft decree concerning the percentage of bio-components that can be added to fuels sold. However, it turns out that the expectations of the Ministry are unlikely to be met. Companies will be able to supply the desired amount of bio-ethanol, but the production of methyl esters (bio-diesel) is almost non-existent in the country and the present producers will not be able to meet the Ministry's forecast. What the country has are only future projects for developments in this sector to be concluded in a year, but even they only envisage production of up to one million tons of esters. "We will make a final decision concerning the construction of a production plant when we receive a decree on bio-fuels excise tax, which will affect the profitability of such a venture," said deputy president of KGHM Metale Andrzej Zibrow. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) M.M.