Darwin Bio diesel plant.
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 10:52
ThreadID:
50843
Views:
2739
Replies:
4
FollowUps:
13
This Thread has been Archived
mfewster
Am I right (I may not be) in thinking that the
Darwin bio plant is designed to use palm oil? Having watched last night's ABC program on palm oil production in Borneo, if the
Darwin plant runs on palm oil, I want to know where they source their palm oil. If it is from Borneo, I wouldn't buy it.
Reply By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 11:21
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 11:21
G'day Mike,
Most BioD plants can run on any bio-oil feedstock.
Natural Fuels Australia have stuff on their website suggesting that Palm Oil is their primary feedstock.
I am unaware of where else in Australia NFA supply, but I know they supply AusFuels in
Darwin - there is one outlet selling a blend (B20 I think)
Elsewhere in Australia you can buy Biodiesel made from all sorts of other stocks including Waste Vegetable Oil and animal fats.
Cheers
Andrew.
AnswerID:
268109
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 11:34
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 11:34
I recall reading a while back that the Federal Government have a fixed quota as to what percentage of Canola oil can be used for "other purposes" such as Bio fuels to protect the stocks available for "human consumption".
Last week there was a press release from Japan threatening the purchase of Canola oil if Australia goes ahead with genetically modified crops.
Now apparently, GM crops are a possibility to counteract the drought conditions be experienced in Australia.
So, using good old Aussie logic, if Australia produce GM canola oil and the Japanese stop buying it, we can use that quota to boost production of Bio fuels (and selling it cheaper), thus filling in the "gap".
Everybody's happy:-))
AnswerID:
268115
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 12:18
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 12:18
Thanks Sandman. I don't care about the Canolola content, but I think palm oil from Borneo should not be supported.
FollowupID:
530596
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 13:51
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 13:51
I find it suprising that anyone honestly thinks that if there were 12000 refinerys making Bio that it would be cheaper.. several people have mentioned it in recent time.
yes it SHOULD, but it should be cheaper with more refinerys than it is now, but profiteering fixes that.
FollowupID:
530609
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:35
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:35
The thread wasn't about the cost of biodiesel, it was looking at whether or not the
Darwin plant uses palm oil and if it does, where the palm oil is coming from. Bio won't necessarily be cheaper, but it is renewable where-as mineral diesel is not renewable.
FollowupID:
530615
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:38
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:38
IM quite sure sandman said
"we can use that quota to boost production of Bio fuels (and selling it cheaper"
am I mistaken?
FollowupID:
530616
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:47
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:47
He did. But as I also said to him, that wasn't what the thread was about. Didn't anyone else catch last night's TV on palm oil production in Borneo?
FollowupID:
530619
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:48
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 14:48
>>> Didn't anyone else catch last night's TV on palm oil production in Borneo?
nope.. dont watch tele anymore until 6mths after election and all crap has subsided.
FollowupID:
530620
Reply By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 17:37
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 17:37
I assume there is a reason you wuldn't support it, I didn't see it so spill the coconuts so we can all be on the same wave length! Please
AnswerID:
268161
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 17:55
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 17:55
Fair enough whyallacookie.
Huge areas of Borneo's tropical rain forest are deliberately being burned after which the areas can be licenced to grow palm oil. The destruction to animal life, especially orang utangs is massive. Surviving Orang Utangs are also hunted and hacked to death because while trying to find food, they destroy
young palm oil plants. It was one of the sorriest programs I have seen.
FollowupID:
530667
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 18:00
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 18:00
Thanks, I was aware of the massive areas being cleared at alarming rates but hadn't heard about the palm oil.
Is this in the new areas though? I just wonder because there are vast areas that have been cleared and not suggesting the ABC wouldn't be showing the truth... but are these areas being cleared for farming or are these plantations in the areas that have already been cleared.
I don't know but they already have huge areas that have been raped of the natural resources, perhaps someone is actually trying to do something constructive with these areas and coping the blame for what others have done
FollowupID:
530668
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 18:15
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 18:15
If I understood it correctly, fires are started by person's unknown. Once the forest has been destroyed, companies can apply to local authorities to use the now useless land. Planting palm oil, seems to be the industry. Driving out the orang utangs is a nice sideline and provides an income while the relicensing (which can take some time) takes place. If the mother is dead, a baby is worth $20000 on the international black market.
FollowupID:
530672
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:14
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:14
Good enough reason (not to support the palm oil if supplied from Borneo) for me
FollowupID:
530718
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:15
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:15
Thanks for the info
FollowupID:
530719
Follow Up By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:32
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:32
I'm not saying the
Darwin plant uses Borneo palm oil, but I think Oz palm oil production is negligible. Borneo is very close to
Darwin, I am just wondering where the
Darwin palm oil is coming from.
FollowupID:
530723
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:52
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:52
Yep, Understad that.
Maybe Bagot could be replanted.... LOL
FollowupID:
530729
Reply By: mfewster - Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:43
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 at 20:43
I have been doing some further research on this. I found a statement from the operators of the
Darwin refinery which shows an awareness of the issues and their policy re. the source of their palm oil. I am much comforted and would be happy to buy biodiesel from them.
For the info of others with an interest in this.
http://wopared.parl.net/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/oil_supply/submissions/sub95.pdf
AnswerID:
268195