VANCOUVER — British Columbia is positioning itself to be a worldwide leader in the biodiesel production industry over the next four years.

B.C. is on the road to lead
biodiesel business in Canada

By 2010, it’s expected B.C. will have a booming biodegradable fuel industry producing clean-burning fuel from renewable sources, and reducing Canada’s dependence on imported biodiesel, which tends to drive costs of the boutique fuel up.

That’s the word from industry experts who spoke at Canada’s first biodiesel production opportunities workshop last week in Richmond, B.C. The event drew over 100 interested producers from across the province, and featured a funding pledge from B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner.

Agri-Green Biodiesel Ltd. also announced that it has begun production at its biodiesel plant in Fernie. And in a related event, Autogas opened North America’s first multi-blend biodiesel dispenser in Delta last week, two million litres of biodiesel per year.

Biodiesel is a biodegradable, clean burning alternative fuel produced from renewable sources such as used vegetable oils, animal fats and trap grease, and domestically produced oilseed crops such as soy, canola and hemp. It can be burned in any conventional diesel engine.

“Biodiesel production in BC is quickly becoming a commercial reality,” said Dennis Rogoza, president and CEO of Fleet Challenge Canada. “But you can’t just throw up a plant and expect to make money. Commercial biodiesel production takes lots of capital, secure feedstock supplies and a reliable distribution system. And when it comes to fuel quality, there can be no shortcuts. Any missteps could set the whole industry back.”

Fleet Challenge BC and the BC BioFleet Biodiesel Market Development Program are managed by the Fraser Basin Council. The national organization, Fleet Challenge Canada, was established to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from fleet vehicles.