Wednesday, 1 August 2007, 12:08 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government
Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister
Hon David Parker
Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues
1 August 2007 Media Statement
Prime Minister launches biofuels for New Zealand
The Prime Minister Helen Clark poured the first bioethanol-blended
petrol today in Auckland, as Gull New Zealand launched the first
commercially available biofuel for New Zealand motorists.
"I congratulate Gull on being the first oil company to make this move,
well before the Biofuels Sales Obligation starts next year," Helen Clark
said. "Gull's new fuel provides motorists with real choice, helps New
Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and takes New Zealand a step
further towards achieving sustainability."
Climate change minister David Parker said the Biofuels Sales Obligation
the government announced in February this year will require biofuels to
make up 3.4 percent of fuel companies' sales by the year 2012. The
obligation is due to commence in April 2008.
"Introducing biofuels to New Zealand will reduce overall emissions of
carbon dioxide from New Zealand vehicles and will help reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by more than a million tonnes between 2008 and 2012,"
David Parker said."
Gull's FORCE 10 fuel is a blend of 10 percent bioethanol, which is
produced at Anchor Ethanol (a Fonterra subsidiary company) and comes
from their Reporoa distillery. The fuel is then blended at Gull's Mount
Manganui terminal. In New Zealand, bioethanol is made as a by-product of
the dairy industry and in future could be made here from crops such as
maize.
"The transport sector accounts for 40 percent of our carbon dioxide
emissions. Gull's initiative is another example of the business sector
stepping up and helping put the country on a more sustainable path,"
Helen Clark said.
"It also shows how government leadership on sustainability can stimulate
new kinds of business opportunities. In this case, we see a by-product
being turned into a useful resource, with benefits for the environment."
Find more information on bioethanol-blended petrol here:
www.energywise.co.nz
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Check for earlier Pacific Biofuel posts: http://pacbiofuel.blogspot.com/
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