November 22, 2007 (Reuters) – Vietnam, which has a technology-sharing pact with leading ethanol producer Brazil, on Thursday approved the production and use of biofuels as it seeks to diversify its energy sources.
Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said in a directive that biofuel output, including ethanol, would reach 250,000 tons by 2015 and 1.8 million tons by 2025, meeting 5 percent of the energy-hungry Southeast Asian country’s total fuel demand.
The government would create favorable conditions to promote the transfer of biofuel technology and investment, including tax incentives and low-interest loans, the directive said.
The economy of underdeveloped Vietnam is growing at more than 8 percent a year, and forecast to expand between 8.5 percent and 9 percent in 2008, boosted by infrastructure and energy projects.
Fears about climate change have fueled a boom in biofuels which has diverted some food crops into fuel production, pushing up cereal prices.
But some environmentalists and food experts say any major use of biofuels, especially wood, as an alternative to burning fossil fuels could lead to further deforestation and hunger.
In May, Vietnam signed an agreement with Brazil, the world’s leading ethanol exporter, to share ethanol fuel technologies.
A subsidiary of state-run oil monopoly Petrovietnam plans to have an ethanol plant up in 2009.
The subsidiary, Petrosetco, has teamed up with Japan’s Itochu Corp. to produce ethanol from tapioca chips at a cost of $100 million.
Asia Cleantech 
I have to say that this is unfortunate, at least for the most part. Biofuels are a huge mistake in most cases, and they have done much damage to the economies of developed and developing nations. They often result in far more release of greenhouse gas than conventional fuels, in part because of the way that marshes, swamps, peat bogs and rain forests are being destroyed worldwide to allow for big biofuel farms.
I don’t mean that all biofuels are bad. Biodiesel from waste vegetable oil is perfectly fine, if one needs a carbon-based liquid fuel. However, when food and fuel are put in competition with each other, poor people suffer. Also, politicians are rarely capable of understanding the difference between good and bad biofuels (though the European Union is considering outlawing certain sources of biofuels because they cause more harm than good).
Articles on these subjects can be found at greenchemistry.wordpress.com
Thanks for the post and best wishes!
I just recently attended the International ENergy Week in Singapore (November 3-7,2008) held at the Raffles City Convention Centre, as organized by the Energy Market Authority and Energy Studies Institute & Bang’s Public Relations.Major issues on biofuel since it competes for agricultural lands and significant requirement for water consumption(pls note that water uses a lot of energy too for both desalination, filtration, distribution, etc.). Thus, our company, Energy Source Consulting with various partners from all over the world is bringing in the technology to increase yield and efficiency of existing Jathropa and other agricultural stock used for biodiesel. Hope we can help individuals, corporations and countries. Furthermore, we provide advanced technologies on biofuel production like cellulose tech & other complementary technologies like wind tech, hydro, hydrogen,biomass, etc. Therefore, we access the best alternative sources of energy based on natural resource,etc. that varies per country (comparative advantage)–www.energysourceconsulting.com ; e-mail: energysourceconsulting@live.com.sg
Biodiesel really competes for the agricultural land and uses much water (which is energy intensive). Thus, technology must be use and efficient processes implemented to maximize yield. Furthermore, we provide advanced technologies on biofuel production like cellulose tech & other complementary technologies like wind tech, hydro, hydrogen,biomass, etc. Therefore, we access the best alternative sources of energy based on natural resource,etc. that varies per country (comparative advantage)–www.energysourceconsulting.com ; e-mail: energysourceconsulting@live.com.sg
we are located in Ohio USA and we are looking for corn oil crude we like to know if you can supply how many metric tons you can supply per month and how is packaging also need to know the price per metric ton fob your side
Vietnam has been recently very active in clean technology. Does anyone know how big is cleantech market in vietnam? Cleantechfinland.com (http://www.cleantechfinland.fi/news/finland_is_seeking_cooperation_with_vietnam_in_energy_and_environmental_issues/) tells that Vietnam is interested in energy-efficient technologies and (waste) water treatment.