Saskatchewan’s deputy premier used the launch of a Regina biofuel test centre last week as an opportunity to push for a national centre of excellence in that city.
Clay Serby said the Saskatchewan Research Council, which houses the $1 million testing lab, along with farmers and other proponents of biodiesel and ethanol plants are leading the development of the Canadian biofuel industry.
“The centre of excellence for biofuels should be here,” he said at the official opening of the lab in the Petroleum Technology Research Centre. “It should be here in this facility.”
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Serby is also lobbying the federal government to set a higher mandate for biofuel content. Ottawa has indicated it will implement a five percent ethanol blend and move to 10 percent by 2010. Biodiesel content would be set at two percent by 2010 and climb to five percent by 2015.
Serby said raising the bar would result in more benefits for farmers. He suggested between one-fifth and one-seventh of the industry would be based in the province.
Saskatchewan was the first province to establish an ethanol mandate. Fuel sold in the province contained just more than one percent ethanol until Sept. 26 when the Husky ethanol plant was scheduled to open in Lloydminster. The additional 130 million litres from that facility will move ethanol content in gasoline to 7.5 percent.
Ethanol quality is tested at the SRC’s Saskatoon lab. The Regina facility will test biodiesel.
Zenneth Faye, executive manager of Milligan Bio-Tech in Foam Lake, Sask., said independent third party testing of its product is key for the company’s customers.
“Our customer is the engine manufacturer,” he said.
Manufacturers have to be comfortable with biodiesel and understand the benefits of reduced engine wear.
Faye said the trucking industry knows the value of biodiesel but because most drivers fill up at card lock locations, they can’t all access it.
“We need consistency of supply and product,” he said.
