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The papers in these workshops represent the personal views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their companies, organisations or the IEA.

Assessing the Biofuels Option
 
Location and date(s) of workshop:
IEA, Paris: 20 June 2005
   
Organiser(s): IEA / UN Foundation / Brazilian Government
   
Contact(s):
   

Background:

Biofuels have had a long history of use in the transport sector. This began in the 1970s and early 1980s when a substantial increase in biofuels production and use in many countries resulted from high oil prices. But biofuels became less competitive vis-a-vis fossil fuels after the collapse of oil prices in the mid 1980s, and global interest in biofuels for transport waned considerably in the 1990s and the first years of the 21st century.

The recent sustained increase in international oil prices has once again highlighted the potential for biofuels to contribute to transport fuel demand, particularly in countries that import the bulk of fossil fuel supplies. Global concerns about the effects of fossil fuel use on the environment, as well as recognition of the benefits of energy supply diversification also support increasing biofuels production and use.

The IEA seminar explored the near-term and longer-term global prospects for biofuels, focusing mainly on the development of new markets. The Brazilian model for development of a national biofuels market was highlighted, as well as perspectives from other countries. The seminar explored the elements of a sound national strategy, and addressed not just biofuels for transport, but also the socio-economic/sustainable development component which involves rural community development, environmental impacts, income generation and the foreign currency potential. Finally, the seminar sought to clarify the opportunities for international cooperation to expand biofuels production and use on a cost-effective, environmentally-sustainable basis.

 
Links to relevant documents:

Participant's Highlights

Agenda
Background Paper: The Contribution of Bioenergy to a New Energy Paradigm
Background Paper: Renewable Energy Markets: Past and Future Trends
List of Participants
Biographies of Speakers

 
Proceedings: Welcome Remarks:
Claude Mandil, Executive Director, IEA

Keynote Address:
Honorary Professor Ignacy Sachs, School of Superior Studies in Social Sciences, Paris

Session 1: Situation Analysis


Moderator: Rick Sellers, Head, Renewable Energy Unit, IEA

Lew Fulton, Transport Energy Specialist, IEA
“ IEA assessment of future transport fuels use and biofuels potential”

Andre Faaij, Utrecht University, Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development
“ Global biofuels potential and costs”

Session 2: The Brazilian Experience


Moderator: Ambassador Sergio Amaral, Brazilian Ambassador to France
Keynote Address: Honorable Roberto Rodrigues, Minister of Agriculture, Brazil “The Importance of Biofuels”

Luiz Carlos Correia Carvalho, Chairman of the Brazilian Sectorial Chamber of Sugar and Ethanol, Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil
“ Market perspective”

H. Ruete De Oliveira, CEO, Copersucar
“ Industry perspective”

Luiz Gylvan Meira Filho, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Sao Paolo
“Environmental dimension”

Sergio Trindade, President, SE2T International, Ltd.
” International trade perspective”

Session 3: Building National Strategies


Moderator: Fabrizio Donini-Ferretti, Head of Energy, Dexia Credit Local

Boris Utria, Senior Economist, World Bank
“ A cost-benefit approach for biofuels markets”

Gustavo Best, Senior Energy Coordinator, UN FAO
“ Best-practice biofuels production”

Francis X. Johnson, Research Fellow, SEI
“ New Policy Cooperation Platforms for Biofuels: Regional Perspectives and Global Implications”

Honorable Viset Choopiban, Minister of Energy, Thailand
“ Towards rural community development and energy self-sufficiency”

Uwe Fritsche, Coordinator, Energy & Climate Division, Institute for Applied Ecology, Germany
“ Establishing environmental standards”

Session 4: National Perspectives on Biofuels

Moderators: Daniel de la Torre Ugarte, Associate Director of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Centre, University of Tennessee
Lucas Assuncao, Coordinator Climate Change & BIOTrade Programmes, UNCTAD


AFRICA

Ghana:
• Minister of Mines & Energy, Hon. Mike Oquaye
Kenya:
• Deputy Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Kamama Asman Abongotum
• Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Raychelle Awuor Omamo
Zambia:
• Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development, Hon. Sebio Mukuka
• Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Hon. James Katoka

ASIA

Philippines:
• Ambassador to France, His Excellency Hector Villarroel
Thailand:
• Minister of Energy, Honorable Viset Choopiban

Working dinner at the Hotel Hilton Paris with keynote speaker Ms. Suani Teixeira Coelho, Deputy Secretary of Environment, State of São Paulo and Head of CENBIO, the Brazilian Reference Center on Biomass, University of São Paulo.


Session 5: Infrastructure & Investment

Moderator: Duncan Eggar, Senior Business Advisor - Sustainable Mobility, British Petroleum

Henry Joseph, Jr., Manager of Engine Tests and Emission Labs, Volkswagen Brazil and Director of the Brazilian Automobile Manufacturers Association
“ Experience with flex-fuel vehicles”

Gerard Belot, Director of Strategic Product Group, PSA Peugeot Citroen
“ Vehicle compatibility with biofuels”

Sergio Antônio Monteiro Fontes, Manager, Petrobras
“ An oil company perspective”

Jean Cadu, Biofuels Development Manager, Alternative Fuels, Shell International, Ltd.
“ The ethanol distribution infrastructure”


Session 6: The Way Forward and Next Steps

Moderator: Reid Detchon, Executive Director of the Energy Future Coalition, UN Foundation

Panel:
Sergio Amaral, Brazilian Ambassador to France

Ashok Khosla, President, Development Alternatives, India

Dr. Mersie Ejigu, President and CEO, Partnership for African Environmental Sustainability, Uganda

Neil Hirst, Director, Energy Technology Office, IEA


Closing Remarks Ambassador William C. Ramsay, Deputy Executive Director, IEA