Limited Bio-Fuel Interest in Russia

WASHINGTON - Jun 12/07 - SNS -- Russia's status as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of petroleum products is limiting official interest in bio-fuels, but the private sector is pursuing opportunities in the sector, asserts the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

Russia has little domestic demand for biofuel, largely due to its abundance of petroleum and natural gas. Alternative energy sources have entered the Russian consciousness, however, and the number of declarations and conferences devoted to the topic rose considerably during 2006 and the first half of 2007.

Even so, there has been no activity at the federal level regarding biofuel legislation, policy, or technology investment, but several activities have taken place at the regional level.

The number of planned biofuel projects has increased, as has the number of local entrepreneurs who have begun or increased their production of biofuel raw materials for export (including wooden pellets, rapeseed, and rapeseed oil).

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