Russia is ramping up biofuel energy development in an effort to go green and increase energy efficiency. The first biofueled Lada hit the road this week, embarking on a trip from Vyatka to Moscow. The fuel - made out of pulp industry production waste - was produced by the Kirov Biochemical Plant which had experimented with using pulp waste to fuel cars in the past, but had never used it to fuel long journeys. The bright green Lada’s 1,000-kilometer journey to Moscow showed biofuel’s potential as an attractive alternative energy source for eco-conscious Russian drivers.
During a recent press conference, Deputy Transportation Minister Valery Okulov suggested that Russia consider sawdust as a potential source of biofuel, saying, "We have a country full of forests and plenty of sawdust; why not make biofuel from it as an alternative source of energy?" Okulov also said Russian aviation companies are already developing alternative energy helicopters and that a future of biofueled Russian airplanes may not be too far away.
The Russian government has been an active supporter of biofuel development, both for domestic consumption and export abroad. In 2008 the government launched a national program to support biofuel production, pledging to build 30 additional biofuel plants and refurbish existing facilities. Most recently, Arkady Dvorkovich, the president’s main economic adviser, said the government would give tax breaks and subsidized interest rates to energy-generating projects that use biofuel, showing a continued commitment to promoting domestic alternative energy consumption.
Ultimately, Russia hopes to export biofuel to the EU, with Deputy Agriculture Minister Alexander Petrikov saying Russia is already prepared to do so. Driving these ambitions are several planned projects that include a Russian Technologies biofuel plant in Irkutsk and an Iteramethanol complex in the Urals Federal District. These projects, coupled with new laws requiring factories to recycle, ensure that biofuel has a strong future in Russia.
How does biofuel fit within Russia’s broader energy efficiency program? Do you believe Russia has the potential to be one of Europe’s major biofuel suppliers?
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