Malta Biodiesel Future
By Anthony D. Gatt - Malta Media
March 6, 2005 -- With pollution and the demand for fuels ever increasing, an alternative has to be found as soon as possible. In a conference held this weekend, organized by fuel-company Edible Oil Refining Company Ltd, it was made public that an experimental collection of used cooking oils will take place, with such materials being used for producing biodiesel. Biodiesel could be a potential product that helps to alleviate the current problem. Biodiesel could help fuel our future.
WasteServ Malta Limited is planning to launch a pilot project for the collection of used cooking oil from 16,400 households to turn it into biodiesel. Starting in May, the project will involve six localities where containers will be distributed to households against payment of a deposit. The receptacles will be collected at authorised collection points and the oil would be used to make environment-friendly biodiesel. If the pilot project is successful, used cooking oil collection will go nationwide.
Around 60 per cent of oil collected from frying pans can be turned into biodiesel through a process that lasts around 15 hours.
As a pure fuel, biodiesel contains no sulphur. Therefore it does not harm the environment as normal diesel when burnt in engines. Apart from this, biodiesel is an alternative fuel that could be used on all diesel engines without any modification. It is hardly ever sold in pure form but is mostly available in blend stock, where biodiesel is mixed to petroleum diesel. The lubricity of biodiesel, needed for the engine's smooth running, exceeds that of normal diesel. Research shows that from one per cent content of biodiesel in the mix, the environmental harm caused by normal diesel is greatly reduced.
Conference organizers, Edible Oil Refining Company Ltd, already collect oil from catering establishments, as well as lards and animal remains from the abattoir to make biodiesel.
It is calculated that the Water Services Corporation has to deal with some 960 sewage blockages a year, 35 per cent of which are caused by cooking oil and fats that end up in sewers. It is believed that with the introduction of this oil-collection system this problem will be diminished and alleviated too.
Environment Minister George Pullicino, who was present for this conference, had announced the pilot project during a visit to Edible Oil last November. He had said that the project would start in January 2005.
The areas from which such cooking oil collection will take place have not yet been revealed as officials said all the details will be announced in the due course.
Biodiesel is already being used by various entities to act as fuel. Mepa's 43 cars powered by a diesel engine is one strong example. Other users include WasteServ, ST Microelectronics and a number of NGOs. The mobile incinerator at the abattoir also runs on biodiesel.
At the end of the conference there was also the possibility for one to test-drive cars making use of biodiesel.