Petron Corp., the Philippines’ largest oil refiner has bagged a deal to supply the state-owned National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) requirements of pre-blended coco-biodiesel. Under the contract, Petron will supply some 180,000 liters of the pre-blended biodiesel, a mix of one percent coco-biodiesel (coco methyl ester - CME) and 99 percent petro-diesel, over the next six months. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said Napocor will use the blend in its fleet of service vehicles which forms part of its compliance to Memo Circular 55 directing all government agencies to use a one-percent CME blend for their vehicles.

       Application for franchises of public utility vehicles (PUVs) using alternative fuels like coco methyl ester may be given preferential treatment in the approval process by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Chairman Ma. Elena Bautista said they are now studying the criteria and qualifications for extending the franchise of PUVs utilizing coco-biodiesel. Bautista likened the situation in the case of taxi operators who were granted extension of their franchise of three years for converting to the use of autogas (liquefied petroleum gas used for the transport sector).

       Combined export of desiccated coconut from the world’s major suppliers, Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka during the period January-September 2005 amounted to 159,375 MT, exceeding by 13.2% a comparable year-earlier period total of 140,815 MT. The Philippines and Indonesia together made up for the sharp cut in Sri Lankan supplies due to drought reduced coconut harvest.

       The study, done by Kimberly M. Hargrave, Jess L. Miner, of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Department of Animal Science; and Michael J. Azain, University of Georgia, Animal and Dairy Science Department, was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, Vol. 1737, Issue 1, 15 October 2005, pp 52-60. The study Abstract says, “Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces a body fat loss that is enhanced in mice fed coconut (CO), which lacks essential fatty acids (EFA). Our objective was to determine if CO enhancement of CLA-induced body fat loss is due to the lack of EFA. The CLA-EFA interaction was tested by feeding CO and fat free (FF) diets for varying times with and without replenishment of individual EFA.

       Figures from USDA show the country’s import of lauric oil in December 2005 rose 24.8% to 58,982 MT from 47,246 MT at the same time year-ago. The increase was on account of hefty expansion in coconut oil shipment of 75.8% from 26,792 MT to 47,090 MT which more than compensated for the shortfall in palm kernel oil of 41.9% from 20,454 MT to 11,892 MT. Coconut oil represented 79.8% in the lauric import mix with palm kernel oil comprising the remaining 20.2%.

       The Philippines remained the leading origin of lauric oil contributing 37,815 MT of coconut oil (64.2% of lauric oil total). Malaysia and Indonesia almost had equivalent shares respectively at 18.0% and 17.9%. Import from Malaysia stood at 10,634 MT made up of 1,247 MT (nil year-ago) of coconut oil and 9,387 MT (10,883 MT) of palm kernel oil. Volume from Indonesia which totaled 10,533 MT consisted of 8,028 MT (1 MT) coconut oil and 2,505 MT (9,571 MT) palm oil.

       McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain said this week its french fries contain a third more trans fat than it previously knew, based on the results of a new testing method which they adapted since December last year. The disclosure comes as McDonald’s Corp. starts rolling out packaging for its menu items that contain facts about their nutritional content, a move made voluntarily, but made under pressure from consumer groups and the government to provide more information.

       A new legislation has been adopted by the European Commission (EC) that sets maximum tolerable levels for dioxins and dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in feed. Since July 2002 maximum levels for dioxins in animal feed have been applicable but the lack of sufficient data and scientific information prevented the setting up of levels for PCBs.