MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bio-fuels expert forecast Argentina will become EU main supplier in spite of Spain
Bio-fuels expert Christopher Berg and head of F.O. Licht forecasted that Argentina this year will become the largest exporter of bio-diesel to the European Union in spite of the Spanish veto to imports in retaliation for the seizure of YPF.
During the recent “World Bio-fuels 2012” held in Sevilla, Spain, Berg anticipated that the volume of Argentine bio-diesel which Spain will not acquire this year will be absorbed by other EU countries.
“The conflict between both governments over the expropriation of YPF does not seem to change much the situation; maybe the influx of exports inside the EU might change but you can be sure Argentina will become the main supplier of bio-diesel to the EU”, underlined Berg.
He added that paradoxically the bio-fuels sector does not enjoy an institutional support in spite of the fact it produces cheaper and less contaminating fuel.
“In some places ethanol is cheaper than gasoline but the sector has lost its place in the political debate, maybe as a consequence of the serious damage inflicted to bio-fuels reputation because of claims it pushes the prices of grains and oilseed, thus “causing hunger” plus ‘unfounded’ accusations it is major generator of ‘greenhouse gas emissions”.
Likewise Oyvind Vessia, from the EC Energy Department recalled the crucial role of bio-fuels in complying with EC rules which has the goal of reducing transport gas emissions 6% by 2020.
Vessia said that stats show that in spite of this objective the ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions effect is growing too rapidly in the transport sector and it is also where less green technologies are been taken advantage of and applies.
Three weeks ago the Spanish Vice-president Soraya Saenz de Santamaría, assured that the purchase of bio-diesel will be limited and underlined that Spain had received an enormous international support for the announced measures.
According to the European Commission stats Argentine exports to the EU received special tariff and customs benefits to the value of 2.4 billion Euros, which represents a drop of 27% of total Argentine sales to the EU that year.
The “World Bio-fuels 2012” congress was organized by Spain’s Focus-Bengoa and F.O.Licht.
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Read all commentsWell, so much for European solidarity.
May 15th, 2012 - 12:12 am 0UK got not a peep on the issue of the Falklands Flag.
Italy/Germany got not a peep on the pensionists in those countries holding defaulted bonds.
Spain gets not a peep over the trade issues.
I say this not to gloat, I don't like any of this, but this is exactly what Europeans and UK posters here would say and HAVE said if Argentina does not get unanimous support from other countries in the region. They will say “South America is not united”, “Oh where are Argentina's friends”, “Latin America is no EU”... etc.
Well, it seems the EU is no EU.
Argentina got know where with their sovereignty claim to the EU, yet the EU supported the UK, its just we haven't pushed the issue further, as we have no need to do so Tobias. After all, as far as we the UK are concerned their is no sovereignty dispute as we hold sovereignty whether argentina likes it or not!
May 15th, 2012 - 12:22 am 0South america is not united, look at all the back stabbing talk and moaning by argentinas neighbours about argentina, all they do is pay lip service to argentina to keep argentina happy. Thats all, nothing more. If it ever comes down to open conflict it will just be argentina on its own, and once chavez is gone their is no way venezuela will help you, as they will be to busy sorting out their own political upheavals once Chavez is gone. And don't expect any help from any other south american nations or china, as they have their own needs to look out for and supporting argentina in any military conflict, should it ever happen, would not be in their own interests.
The issue here is not Argentina or South America, the issue is the UK wanted a formal declaration on the flag issue, EU said it was a ”bilateral' issue.
May 15th, 2012 - 12:25 am 0Spain wanted a import ban, gets nothing.
Germany and Italy pensioners still waiting on the EU to force Argie to settle the outstanding bonds.
Face it teaboy, there is no unity at all in Europe in any of this, its every man for himself right now.
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