JICA-funded P10-M biodiesel fuel plant in Davao is PHL’s first
DAVAO CITY — The city officially opened Friday the country’s first biodiesel fuel plant that can convert used oil to environment-friendly biodiesel fuel.
The plant is located at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) composting facility in Ma-a.
The biodiesel fuel plant project is being implemented by the city government along with Biomass Japan, Inc. and Shinozaki Transport Warehouse Co., Ltd in cooperation with the Japanese government and Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA).
“This facility which (converts) used oil to biodiesel fuel is a welcome development especially as waste management is one of the key priorities of the city of Davao,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said. Also present at the event were Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane.
“With this project, we hope to encourage all Dabawenyos to take on a more active role in preserving the environment,” she said. “With this facility, we can at least reduce the repercussions of modernization.” she added.
Assistant City Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo said the project is worth P10 million.
Mr. Domingo said used oil causes water pollution and clogs rivers and sewer systems. But conversion to biodiesel fuel, he added, makes the waste product useful in lowering vehicle emissions.
“The project becomes sustainable then it is possible that vehicles using this environmentfriendly biodiesel will no longer be required to undergo emission testing before the registration of their vehicles,” Land Transportation Office Davao Region Director Gomer J. Dy said in an interview.
The plant is capable of converting used cooking oil yielding up to 90% end-product. The byproduct is mainly watery which can be easily disposed of in the drainage since no toxic or hazardous chemical is used to convert used cooking oil to biodiesel fuel
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, while still mayor of the city, issued Executive order No. 32 series of 2015, which mandated the proper storage, treatment, transport, export, processing, reprocessing, recycling and disposal of used cooking oil, with CENRO as the lead implementing agency. The EO is pursuant to Republic Act 6969 also known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.”
Consul Tomoko Dodo of the Japanese Consulate in Davao earlier said: “We have done it in Japan and we are confident that this can also be done in Davao City. And if it is good then we want to expand to the other areas.”
She said Japan also faced with the problem of the dumping of used cooking oil into canals and drains. This is very dangerous, she added, but Japan was able to preserve its water systems with the conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel fuel.
MyClimate Japan was contracted to conduct the feasibility study for the project last year. Shigeto Mizumoto, MyClimate Japan analyst, said an initial interview with street food vendors indicated that each vendor generates up to two liters of used cooking oil per day. Most of them revealed they bring the used cooking oil home and dispose of it in the drains.
CENRO Chief Engineer Eliza P. Madrazo said the facility has processed 1,800 liters of biodiesel fuel for the inauguration. The fuel was used to power three public utility jeepneys and the agency’s trucks and vehicles during the inauguration. CENRO’s dump trucks, however, have used the processed biodiesel fuel for a month now for garbage collection operations with no problems reported.
“Per day we can process 1,000 liters and out of that 10% is waste but it can be used for compost,” Ms. Madrazo said.
Mr. Domingo said the eff iciency of the biodiesel fuel will be tested for three months using 30 jeepneys. During this time, the implementing agencies will also conduct emission and fuel eff iciency monitoring.
The implementing agencies previously studies on the sustainability of the project given the existing supply of used oil in the city. Shigeto Mizumo of Biomass Japan, Inc. said one finding was that the city can supply enough used cooking oil to make the project sustainable.
Biodiesel will cost P16 per liter which is cheaper than regular diesel fuel. Mr. Mizumo said the project will seek to expand collection of used oil for further testing on PUJs.
The plant uses MAX premium machinery manufactured by Biomass Japan, Inc. The machinery uses a dry processing method which does not need waste water treatment.