Bird flags biofuel option to offset rising fuel cost

EAST Sepik Governor Allan Bird has urged the Government to invest into biofuel as a means to offset rising cost of oil products in the global economy.
Bird in response to the Treasurer’s presentation on the 2022 mid-year economic fiscal outlook (MYEFO) report, said PNG had one of the best climates in the world for growing commodities.
“We are already one of the top palm oil producers in the world,” he said.
“I would like to implore our Government to seriously look at biofuel, we need some cushioning from the effects of the global economy.
“We cannot continue to be knocked about in the international ocean of economies because we are small.
“Fuel and energy are becoming serious security issues for many countries. We have no excuse.”
Bird said the first engines were designed to run on vegetable oil.
He added that the abundance of fuel, fossil fuels and oil had made people lazy and dependent.
“PNG has one of the best growing climates in the world, we are already one of the top palm oil producers. Palm oil can be converted into biodiesel.
“There are many other oil plants that will grow well in our country that we can use for fuel.”
Bird urged the government to put aside some money in the next budget to be used to partner with private sector and move towards energy security.
“Too many Papua New Guineans depend on diesel and petrol engines particularly the coastal people. We need to start building some resilience into our local economy.”