MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Sea trials for Comodoro Rivadavia bio-fuel powered fishing vessel

Great expectations are riding on this first experience in which a shrimp vessel based in Chubut participates

The first fishing vessel powered with bio-fuel, a mix of micro Patagonian algae with hake and squid residue, set to sea from Comodoro Rivadavia this week reports the Argentine press.

Codepeca I 36 meters long and with a hold capacity of 70 tons belongs to fishing company Harengus and should be back in Puerto Madryn in a week's time in what is considered a first high seas trial. "The vessel is powered 80% with fossil fuel and 20% bio-diesel in a combined cycle. We're not out to compete with oil companies but hoping to stretch in time oil provision and not have the industry entirely concentrated on elaborating fuels. We hope to become producers of "green oil" for the world", said Marcelo Machin, who is behind the project Biocombustibles Chubut in association with the province of Chubut. The alternative energy initiative was born in 2004 sponsored by the provincial government and has research labs both in Comodoro Rivadavia and Puerto Madryn. Copeca I has a crew of 20 plus an observer and loaded 50 tons of fuel before leaving: 45 tons of fossil fuel and 5 of bio-diesel. "It's a challenge. We have to test the bio-fuel in high seas in the different operations that are normal for this kind of vessel", said Captain Luis Poinsot. The Chubut alternative energy department has an agreement with an Argentine company, Oil Fox SA for the production of bio-fuels from Patagonian micro algae. The target of the project involves mounting a full plant in Chubut which demands an investment in the range of 19 million US dollars. Oil Fox SA has contracts for the monthly sale of 20.000 tons of bio-fuels which it should extract from Patagonian micro algae grown in 200 hectares of green houses close to Comodoro Rivadavia. "For this particular case we set up a small refinery in the Alternative energies center. The bio-fuel supplied has 15% hake residue; 30% squid residue, 1% micro algae oil, 42% from musk rose oil and the rest cooking oil", pointed out Mr. Machin