United States’ top diplomat in Japan proposes trilateral cooperation for biofuels among US, Japan and Philippines
The US proposed trilateral biofuels cooperation with Japan and the Philippines. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel suggested producing ethanol in Illinois for processing in Philippine refineries. This collaboration aims to support fuel affordability, energy security, and greenhouse gas reduction. The Philippine delegation’s visit to the US included insights into bioethanol supply and quality control, aligning with the new Philippine standard for 20% ethanol in gasoline starting October 1.
The United States’ top diplomat in Japan proposed a trilateral cooperation for biofuels among the US, Japan and the Philippines.
In a virtual meeting with the Philippine inter-agency delegation’s US Ethanol Study Mission to Illinois, Ambassador Rahm Emanuel discussed a mutually beneficial solution through trilateral cooperation among the three countries.
He proposed that this collaboration could result in the production of environmentally friendly ethanol from Illinois, which would then be processed into ethanol at job-creating refineries in the Philippines.
The Philippine delegation, which included members of the Philippine National Biofuels Board, was joined by representatives from the US Grains Council and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board during their meeting with Emanuel.
Emanuel, a former mayor of Chicago, highlighted that the environmentally friendly ethanol could be used in biofuel-ready vehicles made in America and Japan. He noted that this initiative could help the Philippines achieve goals related to fuel affordability, energy security, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Consul General Susana Paez welcomed the delegation to Chicago and extended her gratitude to the US Grains Council and the Illinois Corn Board for organizing the study tour.
The purpose of the tour is to offer insights into the US bioethanol supply chain, quality control, and monitoring of bioethanol supply and demand, particularly in light of the new Philippine fuel standard, which allows for the inclusion of 20-percent ethanol (E20) in gasoline starting October 1.
Paez expressed optimism that the mission would successfully address the Philippines’ biofuel needs and climate change commitments while ensuring food security objectives are not compromised.
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