Biodiesel on Sale in July in Korea
SEOUL (Yonhap) – Biodiesel for private vehicles is to go on sale in Korea from July. The move, according to the government, is aimed at reducing oil imports and air pollution.
The introduction of biodiesel, a mixture of diesel and 5 percent rapeseed oil, accords with a voluntary pact among local refiners to supply more eco-friendly fuel, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said Thursday.
The agreement calls for local gas stations to sell the biodiesel.
“Because of the low proportion of rapeseed oil used, consumers will not recognize any difference in the performance in their vehicles,” said Vice Industry and Energy Minister Lee Won-geol.
Although the cost of producing this type of ecofriendly fuel is higher than the cost of refining crude oil, the measure will help reduce crude imports and contribute to a reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) the country emits, he said.
While South Korea is not currently obliged to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, it is expected to do so along with other industrialized countries in coming years.
The use of biodiesel can help reduce benzene, hydrocarbons and SOx emissions.
Lee also said that since the government gives tax waivers to clean fuel, people can expect to pay about 7 won less per liter of biodiesel compared to regular diesel.
The government also plans measures to permit more ecofriendly fuel to be used so that by 2011, 5 percent of all energy used will be from reusable, ecologically friendly sources.
Officials said biodiesel that consists of 20 percent rapeseed oil is being considered for the future.
Policymakers add South Korea¡’s introduction of biodiesel and other forms of cleaner fuel is relatively late, since the United States and European countries have offered the fuel since the 1990s.