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Post Info TOPIC: Should biofuel production in Lao PDR be increased?
Anonymous

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Should biofuel production in Lao PDR be increased?
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I came across this paper and wonder if you have the same idea with this writter.



This paper presents an overview of the biodiesel sector in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) in light of increased trade liberalisation with its key trade partners. It explores the potential positive and negative environmental effects of trade liberalisation in this sector.

The author highlights environmental impacts that should be considered in trade negotiations and emphasises the positive impacts of biodiesel from plants like Jatropha, such as the reduction of the country’s dependence on mineral oil products, and its trade deficit. It discusses how biofuels contribute to environmental protection on a large scale. The author also considers the negative impacts of biodiesel, such as unsustainable land use changes as a result of a shift from food to biodiesel production and the loss of natural forests to mono-crop plantations for biofuels.

Strategic recommendations and conclusions include:

  • while many government policies and regulations indirectly govern the biodiesel sector, a cohesive national policy on bio-fuels does not exist at present and will require coordination between government ministries and provincial authorities
  • there is a lack of in-country materials, research and expertise in biofuels in Lao PDR
  • in formulating a national biodiesel policy, it is recommended that the Government of Laos consider mainstreaming environmental considerations into biodiesel policy and regulation development processes
  • it must also consider encouraging the private sector to adopt best practices, through strengthening the strategic environmental assessment process to ensure the private sector addresses environmental and social issues of their operations in Lao PDR.


Authors: P. Sengmany
Publisher: International Institute for Sustainable Development [ES], 2007
http://www.eldis.org/go/display&type=Document&id=35735



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paris_vientiane


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no time to read the whole document now, but looks very interesting.

Acccording to the summ-up, i can say i clearly agree with this document.

BioDiesel can be an opportunity for Laos, but it's also quite dangerous.

1- the real energical benefit of biodiesel is not alsways as good as it seems to be: you need energy to transform what comes from your fields into biodiesel... where do you get this energy?
2- biodiesel production can be socialy dramatic if the growth of biodiesel reduce the food production. You cannot live without food (even is you are very poor), but you can live without diesel (even if sometimes, it's difficult). If in the wold we reduce the food production, price for food will grow up and up... and only rich people will be able to buy their food (with more difficulties than now)

But Laos is lucky: Laos have lot of land regarding the number of people...so maybe there is a place for a reasonable biodiesel production, and Laos have lot of sun and water... just what those production need.

So, with a good regulation, it can be interesting to develop this business, as long as it can reduce the energical dependency of the country.

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Anonymous

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To produce biofuel, it takes up a lot of land and uses a lot of water. What are they going to do convert rice paddies for this? it will drive up the prices of food and produce in Laos and the people there barely make enough to feed their family!



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