Growing imports of cheap Argentine biodiesel into Europe are replacing U.S. imports hit by European Union anti-dumping duties in March, Swiss-German biodiesel producer Biopetrol said on Thursday.

“Increasing amounts of indirectly-subsidized biodiesel have been coming to Europe from Argentina since the second quarter,” Biopetrol said in a statement in a statement on its first half 2009 results.

“The EU and the German government are once again called upon to act quickly to give European biodiesel producers the same protection against subsidized imports as in the case of B99 (biodiesel) from the U.S.”

In March, the EU said it would impose punitive duties on imports of biodiesel from the U.S. while an investigation is held into allegations the U.S. green fuel is sold cheaply in Europe with the help of subsidies.

“Biodiesel prices continued to be under heavy pressure, because large inventories of highly subsidized American B99 that had been established in Europe were still being sold on the market,” Biopetrol said.

The company, which in April underwent major financial restructuring, on Thursday posted a dramatic fall in first half 2009 turnover of about 50 percent to 69.7 million euros from 139.8 million euros in the first half of 2008.

Losses before interest and tax (Ebit) rose to 13.7 million euros from a loss of 3.1 million euros in the same time in 2008.

Increased taxes on biodiesel imposed by the German government had brought a “collapse” in petrol station sales of the green fuel in the first half, Biopetrol said.

This could not even be remotely compensated for by Germany increasing maximum-permitted blending of biodiesel in conventional diesel from five percent biofuel content to seven percent, it said.

Germany’s biofuels industry association said on Monday the country’s biodiesel industry is only working at 20 percent of capacity largely because of high taxes.

But Biopetrol said it was “well positioned for the future” after its financial restructuring in April.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Peter Blackburn)

Source: Reuters

Tunuyán, first municipality to participate in the Bioenergy Program for UNC.

Tunuyan, also participates in investigations of oilseed rape, topinambur and biomass.

The municipality supports the research and development of biodiesel with a monthly financial contribution. Besides is the only department involved in the Bioenergy Program for 2007-2010.

Tunuyan is the only department across the province participating in the Bioenergy Program 2007-2010. With a monthly financial contribution, the municipality of Tunuyan supports research and development of biodiesel.

In addition, the department hosted a major meeting between the president of the Bioenergy Program at the National University of Cuyo, Jorge E. Núñez Mc Leod, and the mayor Eduardo Giner.

In the extensive meeting they highlighted the importance of being the only department of the province which works with the relationship between society and the Bioenergy Program.

The Bioenergy Program of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo emerges as a necessity to fill a vacancy on expert knowledge in the area of biofuels.

This project has a horizon of 4 years and aims to achieve scientific and technological definition of biofuel cycles adapted to regional realities in the province of Mendoza.

The department is part of a list of entities that are merged with the goal of making the UNC self-sufficient in biofuels to 2010.

Tunuyan, also participates in investigations of oilseed rape, topinambur and biomass.

Source: MDZ/Mendoza/Argentina