(USA) Pig fat to be turned into diesel

[Guest guest]

this is surely a further sign of degenerative times.....

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6571993.stm

 

Pig fat to be turned into diesel

A solution for the world's energy crisis may come in the form of a pig.

 

American oil company ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods, the world's biggest meat

producer, have announced that they will produce diesel from pork fat.

 

Cows and chickens will also be transformed to power motor vehicles.

 

The companies say that this renewable source of energy will be cleaner than

conventional diesel. It is hoped that it will be available at petrol stations by

the end of the year.

 

" It is chemically equivalent to diesel itself, " said Geoff Webster, who is

managing the scheme for Tyson Foods, in an interview with the BBC World Service.

 

" It has lower Carbon Dioxide, it is zero sulphur, so many positive benefits for

the environment. "

 

Animal power

 

In two years, ConocoPhillips expects to produce in the region of 175 million

gallons of animal diesel a year. That will add another 15,000 barrels of diesel

a day, which amounts to about 3 percent of the company's total diesel output.

 

It will receive pre-processed fat from a Tyson Foods rendering facility. Animal

fat and other waxy waste is usually turned in to ingredients for soaps,

cosmetics and pet food.

 

 

The company expects to spend approximately 100 million dollars over several

years on the project, and will probably enjoy tax breaks.

 

Since 2005, US oil companies can benefit from a dollar-per-gallon tax incentive

for creating renewable fuel from animal carcasses and other food wastes.

 

While other diesel products using grain, palm oil and sugar cane already exist

in the form of bio ethanol, Mr Webster said that animal diesel will not be made

at a cost to food production.

 

" We won't be processing animals simply to get the fat to turn them in to fuel.

We're taking a by-product and using that for fuel, " Mr Webster said.

 

" We feel that it is a huge step forward as opposed to taking grains which are

needed for food around the world and turning those in to fuel. "

 

Vegetarian issue

 

Biofuels are seen as a way of reducing harmful emissions from burning fossil

fuels.

 

While animal diesel may be an environmentally friendly alternative, there are

fears it may not be to everybody's tastes or ethics.

 

Mr Webster admitted that they were yet to discuss this new product with

vegetarian and religious groups.

 

The diesel when produced will be pumped into a network and mixed with other

types of diesel. It will not be possible to tell at petrol stations whether the

diesel is made from animal fat or not.

 

In a statement, the animal rights group PETA expressed its dismay.

 

" A recent report published by the United Nations concludes that the meat

industry is responsible for more global warming emissions than all the cars,

trucks and planes in the world combined. "

 

" Clearly, the answer to global warming isn't to fill gas guzzling cars with

ground up remains of tortured animals, it is to go vegetarian, which is

something every person can afford to do and should do for the sake of their own

health, animals and the environment. "

 

Published: 2007/04/19 16:03:36 GMT

 

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