Socio-economic dynamics of biofuel development in Asia Pacific
Christina Schott | FES | 2009
Topic: Landkonflikte
Region: Asien
While initially promoted as a solution for energy selfsufficiency
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the
production of many biofuels has turned out to be far
from sustainable. The carbon balance often proves to be
negative when natural areas are converted into
plantations and forests destroyed. In many feedstock
producing countries, the use of farmland for energy crops
endangers food security.
Newly introduced certification mechanisms in Europe
and the USA do not take into consideration the social
impacts of biofuel feedstock production on communities
living and working in feedstock producing areas.
Certifications will only be effective, if they include all
large biofuel consumers. China and India introduced
biofuel mandates and producers in developing countries
no longer depend on Western demand.
While China, Japan and South Korea are heavily
investing in the biofuels industry, most of the feedstock
will be produced in Southeast Asia and Pacific countries.
Feedstock producing countries show a certain regional
pattern:
- Equatorial countries Indonesia and Malaysia,
with Singapore as their logistics centre, take the
lead in biodiesel production from palm oil. They
are followed by Thailand, the Philippines and
their Pacific neighbour Papua New Guinea.
- The Mekong countries focus instead mainly on
biodiesel from Jatropha curcas with Myanmar
currently trying to push the world’s largest
Jatropha cultivation project.
- The Philippines concentrate on biodiesel
production from coconut oil.
- Bioethanol is mainly produced from cassava and
sugarcane. Thailand and the Philippines are the
largest producers in the region.
Second-generation biofuels derived from non-food
biomass such as algae or cellulose-containing plant
residues are the best alternative for slowing down the
current worrisome dynamics. However, since these
technologies are not commercially viable yet, immediate
hope now seems to lie with biodiesel produced from
Jatropha curcas. In 2010 about 5 million hectares of it
will be planted worldwide and more than 85 percent
will be located in Asia. Yet, with no long-term experience
in the production of Jatropha-based biodiesel, the
Jatropha boom bears significant risks.
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