PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

By Jan Cloin

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Sept. 26) - Last week on Thursday a remarkable show was performed at the Solomon Islands National Trade Fair on center stage.

In between groups of dancers and musicians, hundreds of people gathered around to hear about the experiences of five local drivers running on biofuel.

Two minibuses, two trucks and a new Toyota Hilux were revving their engines at the front of the stage for the crowd to smell the unusual exhaust fumes -- some said it even smelled nice.

The enthusiastic crowd also included the Minister of Commerce, Peter Shanel and the Minister of Finance, Bart Ulufaalu.

Drivers reported no problems while driving on biofuel, which is a mix of 80 percent filtered coconut oil and 20 percent kerosene.

The engine starts fine, runs fine and because of biofuel use is cheaper to run than regular diesel and this has meant significant savings for drivers.

Although some drivers reported a higher frequency of fuel filter change, they said that the savings were much greater with the cost of replacing filters.

Biofuel from Solomon Tropical Products (STP) currently retails for SB$5.50 [US 78cents] while diesel is SB$2 [US 28 cents] more expensive at SB$7.50 [US$1.07] per liter.

As an Energy Adviser for the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) speaking at the National Trade Fair on Thursday, I also explained that Solomon Islands is not alone in searching for alternatives to fossil fuel.

To the north, we have the Marshall Islands copra mill retailing coconut oil biofuel, to the east, Vanuatu has a number of businesses producing coconut oil biofuel, to the west, we see Papua New Guinea with various biofuel initiatives in the south, New Caledonia has various islands with generators providing power using coconut oil.

Even though it is nothing new, it is the high price of fossil fuels on the world market that makes the production of biofuels viable and a real alternative for people driving cars, trucks and buses.

The advantages of using coconut oil for the Solomon Islanders are many; the use of coconut oil is cleaner than diesel, it is cheaper, you can smell the difference and coconut oil does not leave black clouds of smoke, which we sometimes see behind minibuses in Honiara.

It also reduces the need for importing oil from other countries, which is good for Government finances and thus increases self-reliance.

In addition, it is also good for the farmers, who will receive more for their coconuts and copra, which is much needed for survival on the outer islands.

The audience was also reminded that although there is currently enough fossil fuel to go around, future generations might experience a lack of these fuels.

During the festivities as everyone was drinking fresh coconuts, the question of possible coconut shortages was also addressed.

As long as we look after our gardens and plantations there will always be coconuts and coconut oil is a renewable source of energy, which means it won’t run out.

Later on during the day, I presented a paper on the biofuel activities around the Pacific Islands region at the Science, Technology and Resources Network Session (STAR) in Honiara as part of the SOPAC annual talks.

While the emergence of biofuel production in various parts of the world was driven by environmental concerns embedded in the Kyoto Protocol, support for agricultural commodity prices and the wish to be independent of imported oil, it was sheer economics that currently led the Pacific Islands region to seek alternative fuels.

The price of diesel is currently high enough for coconut oil biofuel to be used in specific types of engines with savings, even if the maintenance costs are slightly higher.

For use in all cars, the production of bio-diesel through esterification is required, which is still too expensive for the small markets in the Pacific.

Nevertheless, governments in the Pacific need to take note of these opportunities to make the biofuel sector viable through various tax and investment incentives.

SOPAC is assisting Pacific member countries in the Pacific with the establishment of biofuel standards, following ANZ and European guidelines, to achieve a greater market penetration of biofuels.

SOPAC is also investigating the feasibility of rural electrification of remote island communities that produce their own oil for fuel and other local value adding products such as cooking oil, body oil and the production of soap.

In addition, SOPAC focuses on the sharing of important experiences amongst member countries with biofuels through expert networks and workshops, and has recently commissioned various publications on the use and impact of biofuel use in the Pacific Islands region.

The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission is a regional organization also committed to working with people in the Pacific to strengthen the ability of countries to protect local communities from the impact of natural disasters and make more informed decisions about how to use their land and ocean resources.

Further information about work conducted by SOPAC, including disaster risk management, ocean and island natural resource development and management, and the provision of reliable water, energy and communications to the Pacific, is available at www.sopac.org.

Jan Cloin is Energy Advisor at the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission

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