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First timer: UK fuel companies report on sustainability
"The UK's Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) released its first interim quarterly report on 7 October which includes disclosure of company performance on the supply of biofuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)," reports Biofuel Cities.
The RFA writes that "In the year to April 2009, fossil fuel companies were obliged to supply 2.5% biofuel in UK road fuel. Biofuels accounted for 2.61% in the first quarter. More biodiesel (84%) has been supplied than bioethanol (16%).
The target for sustainability (i.e. meeting a qualifying environmental standard) is 30% over the reporting year. Currently, 20% of biofuels meet these standards. 97% of the fuel reported as coming from UK feedstocks met environmental sustainability standards.
The carbon reduction achieved by the use of biofuels (44%) during the first three months of the obligation is greater than the 40% target set by the Government for the first year of the RTFO."
Our take: The first quarter's success is a welcome support for the United Kingdom's front running strategy to curb negative impacts of the increasing demand for biofuels. Although reporting is done on a voluntary basis, for a company in order to be able to claim that it provides its customers with fuels that adhere to certain environmental standards, it has to be done.
In anticipation of developments on the EU level, other member countries, for now, shy away from taking concrete measures. Earlier this year, the Netherlands postponed the introduction of a reporting scheme comparable to the one deployed in the UK. However, agreement on a EU level may not be within reach and therefore we welcome the steps taken by the UK.
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