PHILIPPINES - The Toyota Tsusho Corp is planning to build a biodiesel plant in the Philippines.
According to a report in the Manila Times Hirohiko Omura, the firm’s global project planning department head said the company wants to build the plants and establish jatropha plantations in General Santos and Davao by 2012.
The plantations and refineries would provide biodiesel for the Philippines and China, South Korea, Japan and parts of Europe.
Toyota Tsusho started a joint venture study with Dole Philippines last July on 50 to 200 hectares of land.
This was the first time that Toyota Tsusho has looked at biofuels production.
Mr Omura told teh Manila Times that the company wants to expand to other Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
“Several developing and developed countries need biodiesel. We chose the jathropa since it requires minimal water and will not compete with edible crops,” Omura said.
Rosemarie Gumera from the National Biofuels Board (NBB) tol,d the Manila Times that Toyota Tsusho has been coordinating with NBB to comply with the government’s requirements for biodiesel plantation and production.
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