Largest Philippines biodiesel producer repurposing factory to boost volumes as B3 launched

In the Philippines, D&L Industries, Inc., the parent company of the country’s largest biodiesel maker Chemrez Technologies Inc., is ready to repurpose its existing factory lines in Quezon City to cater to the higher biofuel demand in the country with the implementation of a Department of Energy (DOE) circular starting Oct. 1.

Chemrez president Dean Lao Jr. told reporters during a media tour at D&L’s new PHP10.5-billion factory here on Monday that its biofuel capacity is currently at 90 million liters, which only cater to a portion of the overall demand. The demand for biofuel will further increase as the DOE Circular 2024-05-0014 takes effect Tuesday (Oct. 1), wherein all coco methyl ester (CME) blend for all diesel fuel should be at least 3 percent (B3) from the current 2 percent (B2). This will translate to a 450-million-liter increase in biofuel demand. Biodiesel mix will further increase to 4 percent (B4) on Oct. 1, 2025, and to 5 percent (B5) on Oct. 1, 2026.