Biofuels could benefit south

ROBYN EDIE

NEW TECH: Chevron product engineering specialist Greg Engeler with product manager Frank Wong set up a display of Caltex's diesel formula.

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Southland could adopt biofuel as a commercial alternative to diesel and petrol when a second generation of the fuel source becomes available.

Chevron product engineering specialist Greg Engeler yesterday said his company began developing a second generation biofuel last year that did not use waste food.

The idea was to use by-products from such things as the forestry sector to make the renewable and low-carbon fuel. Southland could be well positioned to take advantage of it when it became commercially viable, he said.

However, the technology to produce the fuel for all vehicle types might not be available for another 10 years, Mr Engeler said.

Chevron is part of Caltex. Mr Engeler was in Invercargill yesterday to promote Caltex's new diesel formula, Techron D, to high volume users and to explain the benefits.

The fuel additive, which was premixed into diesel and already in Caltex fuel stations, was a follow-on from the petrol additive released in 2006 and worked in three ways to make diesel easier and more efficient, he said.

It removed dirt from the engine, reduced corrosion and almost eliminated foam, Mr Engeler said.

Techron D would mean people could fuel up faster, with less spillage and fit more in their tank because of reduced foam, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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