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Report
No.231102 |
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- Domestic - |
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MAFF to Set Out Numerical Targets for Biomass-based Transport Fuel The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) established on June 30 a Headquarters for the Promotion of Domestic Biomass-based Transport Fuel within the ministry with Mr. Yasushi Kaneko, Parliamentary Secretary of MAFF as its head, which convened the first meeting the same day. The headquarters will explore ways of using domestic agricultural products for biomass-based transportation fuel in the wake of the decision by the government in March this year on Biomass Nippon Strategy [General Biomass Strategy for Japan]. Biomass-based fuel like bio-ethanol made from sugar cane and off-grade wheat and corn is effective in preventing global warming. The above Biomass Strategy set out a target, keeping in mind the Kyoto Protocol (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), to introduce 500,000 kilo litters of biomass-based transportation fuel by 2010. The target volume will be equivalent to 20 million kilo litters of gasoline with 3% mixture of bio-ethanol (E3), or one-third of gas consumption of Japan. The MAFF's Biomass-based Transport Fuel Headquarters will study how much of the biomass-based transportation fuel supply could be secured from domestic agricultural products, and examine target volume and method of supply. The first meeting of the Headquarters reviewed the current state and problems of biomass-based transportation fuel in the country as well as policies on and state of introduction of the biomass-based transportation fuel in advanced countries. It intends to make an intensive study on it with an aim to have the target numbers incorporated in the outline request for agriculture, forestry and fisheries-related budgets for FY 2007. Issues including tax breaks, which will assume importance in introducing bio-fuel, will be tabled for consultation with the relevant ministries after the outline budget request will have been made. |
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