OPEC Slams Biofuel Use

Biofuel increases the price of food and disrupts natural habitats and should not be promoted for its beneficial uses.

This damning statement comes from a recent OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) study which suggests that all nations should halt subsidising biofuels and work on improving technology instead.

The study looks at Thailand where the use of a gasoline-ethanol blend is proving to be inefficient in comparison to regular gasoline.

Commenting on the Thai Government's strategy to boost ethanol consumption by reducing tax on vehicles, the report states that "while favourable to farmers, an ethanol demand boost would result not only in higher costs for the government but also prove to be harmful for the environment and increase food commodity prices."

The report goes on to say that the biofuel industry has caused a huge "hike in food prices not only in China but worldwide".

Recent scientific reports from the UK and other countries have also suggested burning biofuel can produce the same levels of carbon dioxide as regular fossil fuels.

By Ozge Ibrahim