Japan Moves Slowly to Biofuels

WASHINGTON - Jun 3/06 - SNS -- Japan wants to meet its C02 emission reductions agreed to in the Kyoto Accord, but limited domestic agricultural production is making it hard for the country's biofuels industry to get going, since most of the fuelstock would need to be imported, driving up costs.

Looking at the situation, the U.S. agricultural attache for the country noted. "There are at least six feasibility studies under way that are analyzing the prospects for biofuel production. However, the prospects for production and distribution of biofuels are severely limited by Japan's shrinking agricultural production.

"In order for biofuels to be adopted nationwide, Japan would need to import either the raw commodities or the biofuels. Indeed, Japan has begun imports of ethanol from Brazil and is incorporating them into ETBE production.

"The primary force driving the Government of Japan's move toward biofuel study and use is its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions. If Japan were to expand its biofuels use it would essentially be substituting petroleum imports for biofuel imports."

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here